Lottery Singapore is the only state operator offering both lottery and sports betting. It is also the only company in Singapore licensed to offer its products online, though its remote gambling service is only used by sports betting punters who make up a small percentage of the total ticket sales. In the past, most people bought lotteries at retail outlets rather than through online platforms.
The easing of COVID-19 restrictions has led to a dramatic surge in the amount of money gamblers have placed on 4-D and Toto bets, as well as football and motor racing bets. In the 2021/22 financial year, which ended in March, the Tote Board reported that SGD9.2 billion had been bet on these games, its highest figure in four years.
Earlier this month, a man was arrested after he admitted to winning S$3 million from a lottery scam that targeted elderly Singaporeans. The 63-year-old, from Clementi, was part of a syndicate that lured its victims to participate in a lottery-style game through WhatsApp messages and posed as religious figures. The scammers took advantage of the fears and anxieties of older citizens, who may have been targeted because of their higher chances of losing a large sum of money.
The film is a comedy about a group of friends who decide to tamper with the system in order to win a prize of $10 million. The film is based on a real-life case that happened in 2012. It stars veteran actor Chao, who is a Golden Horse Awards nominee for Best Supporting Actor, and includes cameos from fellow actors such as Lee and Chua.