A lottery is any game, method, device or scheme whereby money or its worth is distributed or allotted in any way, whether by chance or lot. It is also referred to as a raffle or a tombola. In Singapore, lottery is governed by the Charities and Gaming Act (CGHA) which stipulates that any person who wishes to conduct a public lottery must register with the Registrar of the Charity Commissioner’s Office. The Registrar’s office is responsible for ensuring that all lotteries are conducted in accordance with the law and that all proceeds from the gambling activities are given to the authorised beneficiaries. The Registrar is also required to ensure that gambling activities are conducted in a professional manner and that the interests of society as a whole are protected.
Singapore Pools (Private) Limited is the sole operator of The Singapore Sweep Lottery. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Tote Board, a statutory board under the Ministry of Finance. The company is also the only legal bookmaker and totalisator for association football and motor racing betting in Singapore. Singapore Pools is also an authorised promoter for a number of Singapore-based foreign lotteries.
The Singapore lottery system was first established in 1968 as a manual pool. The first changes to the lottery were made in 1981 when the jackpot was changed to rollover. This allowed for much larger jackpots and increased the chances of someone winning.
The current prize structure consists of nine prize groups with a top prize of $1 million. The odds of winning vary by prize group and draw type. The odds of winning a group 2 prize, for example, are lower than those of winning a group 1 prize. If you are planning to play the lottery, it is important to understand how these odds work.
Despite the closure of the Singapore racecourse, the lottery continues to be popular among residents and visitors to the country. In fact, it is one of the most popular forms of gambling in the city-state. Approximately 44% of Singaporeans and permanent residents reported having played the lottery in 2023.
In order to avoid prosecution for gambling duties, promoters of the lottery must file a statement with IRAS and pay the duty within the deadline of 15 days after the last day of the month during which the races/events/draw takes place. They can pay their duty by submitting the payment slip at any post office outlet or by cheque, crossed and made payable to “Commissioner of Gambling Duties”, with their full name and tax reference number written on the reverse side of the cheque. In addition, they must submit two copies of the printed promotional material to IRAS no later than three months after conducting the lucky draw. Alternatively, they can ask for a composition amount, depending on their previous compliance records, to settle their gambling duties instead of facing enforcement actions. This amount is not to exceed the maximum limit set under the CGHA.