Lottery Singapore and Lottery Hongkong
Lottery Singapore is a government-regulated lottery system that offers different types of lotteries, including 4-D, Toto and Singapore Sweep. It also regulates sports betting.
A significant amount of money is spent on lottery and sports bets in Singapore each year, according to the Tote Board, a statutory body that oversees lottery operator Singapore Pools and horse race governing body Singapore Turf Club. In its last financial year, which ended this March, the statutory body reported that SGD9.2 billion was placed on these bets, a 43% increase on the previous year’s figure.
Singapore’s lottery spending is driven by a variety of factors. The main ones are age, education and income. People who completed post-secondary education tend to be more active lottery players than those who did not.
However, those who had a family history of gambling issues were less likely to play the lottery. They were also more likely to be Chinese or Malay citizens.
The National Council on Problem Gambling has a helpline and Webchat that provide free support for those with gambling problems. The organisation advises individuals to exercise self-responsibility and avoid betting excessively, and to seek professional help if they feel that their gambling behaviour is not in their best interest.
Another common issue is that people who win a large sum of money often find themselves in a situation where they have to make decisions about their finances and their lifestyle. This is called sudden wealth and a study has found that it can have devastating effects on the mental and emotional well-being of many people.