A lottery is a type of gambling in which numbers are drawn to win a prize. It can be played for money or goods, or for services like sports events. The prizes vary from a small amount to a huge sum of cash. In some countries, winnings are taxed. In others, the winners keep all the winnings. In Singapore, lottery winnings are considered windfalls and not taxable.
Lottery Singapore is operated by the Tote Board, a statutory body. The games offered by the operator include 4-D, Toto, Singapore Sweep and sports betting on football and motor racing. It is legal to buy a ticket at any of the more than 16,000 outlets across Singapore. The prizes for each game are based on the amount of money raised in the draw.
According to the Tote Board, in 2021/22, Singaporeans spent a record $9.2 billion on bets, marking a 40% increase over the previous financial year. This is the largest amount of money that has been placed on lotteries, Toto and sports betting in a single year.
Toto, established in 1968, is one of the most popular types of lotteries in Singapore. The jackpot in TOTO varies but is always more than $1 million. You can watch live TOTO draws at the Singapore Pools Main Branch at 210 Middle Road. You must bring your TOTO winning ticket and identification (NRIC or Passport for Singaporeans or PRs; or driving licence for foreigners) to claim your prize. Unclaimed prizes are redirected to donations and charitable grants managed by the Tote Board after 180 days from the date of the drawing (including weekends and public holidays).