Playing the Game of Luck: All About the Lottery in Singapore
Winning a great amount of money in just a short amount of time is the ultimate dream, and in Singapore, you get a shot at this through the lottery.
But the lottery system in Singapore may seem complicated to newcomers, so if you are new to lottery and betting, I wrote this article for you. Here, you get to learn all about the basics of the lottery in Singapore: how to buy, how to play, and more.
The Different Kinds of Lottery in Singapore
4-D
— From: cindyjersey994
4-Digits, more commonly known as 4D in Singapore, is a form of lottery with fixed-odds mechanics. Essentially, players choose any number from 0000 to 9999, and if their selection matches the numbers drawn, they win a prize.
It’s believed that the 4-D game started in Kedah (a state in Malaysia) in 1951 when a schoolboy allegedly set up his bicycle as a raffle prize. He sold 100 tickets, and each had two digits and cost S$1.
This led to the creation of 2-D lottery, which in turn became 3-D and then 4-D. 4-D eventually came to Singapore, thanks to the Singapore Turf Club.
This was in 1966. The ticket was S$1, and people had a chance to win S$2,000. The club isn’t offering it anymore because its sister company, Singapore Pools, has taken over the draws.
TOTO
— From: phyuthwel
TOTO is the second most popular kind of lottery in Singapore because it’s legalized. This form of lottery was established in the 1960s to help combat the widespread illegal gambling that was happening at the time.
Another reason TOTO is popular is its “snowballing” mechanics. Basically, players pick six numbers from 1 to 49, and the ultimate winner is one whose numbers match the ones drawn—and if no one gets it, the jackpot prize will increase from draw to draw.
Sometimes, TOTO holds special draws during certain occasions, such as the Chinese New Year Draw and the Mooncake Draw (in honor of the Mid-Autumn Festival). TOTO has also been available online since September 2016.
Singapore Sweep
— From: thetoohan25
Unlike 4-D and TOTO, which are standard lottery games that let you choose the numbers, Singapore Sweep is more of a raffle.
You’re only required to buy a ticket with a ticket number that ranges from 1,000,000 to 4,499,999. And during the raffle draw, if they pick out a number that fits your ticket number, then you win.
There are 3.5 million number combinations available, and the jackpot prize is around S$2,300,000. For this reason, the stakes are high for Singapore Sweep, which is why many individuals try their luck at it.
How to Buy Lottery Tickets in Singapore
In Singapore, you can buy lottery tickets in two ways: 1) the traditional way of going to a local outlet and 2) buying the ticket online.
The only company legally allowed to sell tickets and perform lottery draws is Singapore Pools, and luckily, it offers both methods of purchase.
Who can participate in the Singapore lottery?
Any Singaporean citizen or permanent resident who is older than 18 years can legally participate in the Singapore lottery. But if you’re planning to create an account on the official Singapore Pools website, you’ll need to verify your age.
There are three ways to verify your account, which are as follows:
- Via Singpass. This is the most common verification method because many people choose to register using their Singpass info. For verification, all you have to do is do a simple face scan procedure.
- Via online verification. For this particular method, you’ll have to verify via the Singapore Pools website or its mobile app. A part of the procedure involves a video call with a customer service representative.
- Via a Singapore Pools branch. You can go to the closest branch of Singapore Pools. Bring with you the document that contains your FIN number and proof of address (just in case it’s needed).
How much does a lottery ticket cost in Singapore?
— From: xtina_see
The cost of lottery tickets in Singapore depends on the lottery type. If you’re planning to play 4-D or TOTO, the ticket will be priced at S$1 per entry, but if you want the Singapore Sweep, it will be S$3.
How to Play Lottery in Singapore
4D
When you play 4-D, you have to place a number between 0000 and 9999, and in every round of the draw, up to 23 numbers will be drawn. That’s why people usually have multiple bets in place.
There are various ways to play 4-D in Singapore: namely, ordinary, system entry, iBet, and 4-D Roll.
Ordinary
The ordinary method is the most popular because it’s simple and straightforward. You’ll only have to do the following things:
- Pick your number and shade it on the slip.
- Choose your preferred draw day. It’s either Wednesday, Saturday, or Sunday.
- Leave the boxes that say “iBet” or SYS Entry” blank.
- Choose whether you want to place a “Big Bet” or a “Small Bet.” The difference between them is simple: the Small Bet has a higher risk and a higher reward than the Big Bet (more on this later).
System Entry
The second method is system entry, where a computer generates numbers for you. Many people prefer this method because the sequence of numbers matters in 4-D.
So, with a system entry, the computer can make all the possible permutations of the numbers you’ve picked, which is helpful since it lets you cover all grounds. Just take note that the number of permutations you have will dictate the price you need to pay.
iBet
System Entry can get really expensive, especially if you have permutations of several number combinations. So, if you want to get the most out of S$1 but still enjoy the perks of System Entry, you might want to consider iBet.
iBet is really just System Entry that costs S$1, which sounds great—almost too good to be true. And it does have a catch: if you guess the right number, your prize will also be significantly less.
4-D Roll
With 4-D Roll, you only have to pick three numbers instead of four. The fourth will be marked “R,” which represents any number from zero to nine.
Basically, the R number works like the blank tile in Scrabble. It can be anything you need when the moment comes.
So, if your bet is 123R and the winning draw is 1234, your R will represent 4.
4-D Roll is extremely beneficial, but it has a catch: it will cost 10 times your typical bet amount.
How the 4-D Draw Works
As mentioned earlier, 4-D comes in two types of bets: a Big Bet and a Small Bet. Basically, a Small Bet only has three tiers (first, second, and third), while a Big Bet has two more tiers (starter and consolation).
A Big Bet draws a total of 23 numbers, while a Small Bet draws only three. In other words, you have more chances of winning something when you place a Big Bet.
That said, your prize will be a lot bigger if you choose a Small Bet and actually win.
4-D draws happen every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday, and if you can’t catch the live draws, you can check the Singapore Pools website.
TOTO
As mentioned earlier, TOTO’s mechanics involves you guessing six numbers, and if your numbers match the ones drawn, you win. The difference between TOTO and 4-D is that while the sequence of numbers matters in 4-D, it doesn’t in TOTO.
So, if the numbers drawn are 123456, you’ll still be considered a winner if your bet is 654321. So long as all the winning numbers appear on your bet, the top prize is yours.
To play TOTO, there are four methods to choose from: ordinary, quick pick, system entry, and system roll.
Ordinary
Just like 4-D, TOTO’s ordinary entry is the most common method of play. It’s straightforward, making it perfect for beginners.
With an ordinary entry, you have to do the following:
- Shade the six numbers (from 1 to 49) you want to bet on.
- Leave the options for Sys 7 – Sys Roll blank.
- Get your ticket and make sure to keep it safe. If you do win, you need it as proof to collect your prize.
- If you want to play for the upcoming round, shade “Draw 2.” TOTO takes place twice a week, so “Draw 2” will put your bet for the upcoming draw and the following one.
Quick Pick
If you don’t want to come up with the numbers yourself, you can simply head to the counter and ask for a quick pick (QP). With this method, you’ll get a computer-generated set of numbers, and each bet will cost you S$1.
Some people like to make multiple bets using QP to up their chances of winning.
System Entry
Instead of having only six numbers for your bet, the system entry will add more numbers to increase your odds of winning.
Because of this, prices for this method can get really high really fast. The cheapest option might start at S$7, and if you’re not aware of how many bets you’ve placed, the price might end up as high as S$924.
System Roll
Just like 4-D’s roll, TOTO’s system roll lets you pick five numbers instead of six, and the last number is a Rolling Number (R), which represents any of the remaining 44 numbers.
Since you’re technically placing 44 different bets, the price for this method starts from S$44.
How the TOTO Draw Works
TOTO draws are very much straightforward: they’re done twice a week on Monday and Thursday at 6:30 pm. Six numbers are drawn first, and just as the draw comes to a close, they will pull a bonus seventh number (also known as the additional number).
If you get this number right, you’ll get extra prize money—that’s assuming you’ve gotten at least three out of the six winning numbers correct.
Singapore Sweep
Out of all the three types of lottery, Singapore Sweep has probably the simplest game mechanics. After all, it’s just a raffle system, so all you have to do is buy a ticket (or two or three or how many you can afford) and hope for the best.
The live raffle draws multiple numbers, and each draw has its own prize. This makes you feel like you’ll have a good chance of winning, but in reality, the odds are low.
Lottery Prizes in Singapore
4-D
— From: cindyjersey994
4-D prizes depend on whether you choose Big Bet or Small Bet. To see the difference between the two, refer to the table below:
— From: cindyjersey
The prize structure gets even more complicated if you choose iBet for 4-D. Here’s a breakdown of the prizes:
TOTO
— From: abahhoki88
TOTO’s prizes are divided into seven groups, with Group 1 as the Jackpot Prize. Unlike the other games, TOTO uses a prize pool for most of its prizes, and its exact amount has never been revealed.
The first four groups are allocated a certain percentage of the prize pool, and if there are multiple winners per group, they’ll divide it equally among themselves. Meanwhile, the winners of Groups 5, 6, and 7 will get to keep the winnings to themselves.
Here’s a breakdown for a clearer look at the prizes.
Singapore Sweep
Singapore Sweep does multiple draws, and each has its own prize. On the off-chance that the same seven-digit number is drawn more than once, the person holding that ticket will be entitled to all the prizes.
Here are the different prizes for Singapore Sweep.
How to Collect Lottery Winnings in Singapore
Let’s say you won something after placing your bets for multiple lottery games. Now is the time to think about how to collect your well-deserved winnings.
The first thing you need to keep in mind is that only you can collect the winnings since you’re the holder of the ticket. That’s why it’s important to keep your lottery ticket safe; you need it to prove you’re the winner.
The second thing you need to remember is that prizes must be claimed within 180 days from the date of the draw. And yes, that includes weekends and public holidays.
As for where to collect your winnings, that will depend on how much you’ve won and what kind of ticket you bought (physical or e-ticket).
- If your prize is S$5,000 or below and you have a physical ticket, you can visit any Singapore Pools branch for cash collection.
- If your prize is S$5,000 or below and you have an e-ticket, you can request a claim at the Singapore Pools’ e-ticket-enabled outlet. You can claim the prizes of multiple e-tickets, so long as the total doesn’t exceed S$200,000.
- If your prize is beyond S$5,000, go to the Singapore Pools Main Branch (located at 210 Middle Road) for cheque collection. The branch is open on weekdays from 8 am to 4:30 pm (closed on public holidays).
- If you have a physical ticket, be sure to bring a photo identification document (e.g. NRIC or passport) that bears your name and matches your bank records.
- If you have an e-ticket, first send your claim request within the eBetslip app, then head to the Singapore Pools Main Branch. Be sure to bring your phone where your e-ticket is saved and your identification document.