Lower Toto Hongbao jackpot not a deterrent for punters as snaking queues form outside betting outlets
The Toto queue outside Fu Lu Shou Complex at around 1.30pm on Feb 26, 2021.
- The jackpot for the Toto Hongbao draw has been lowered from S$12 million to S$8 million this year
- Singapore Pools said this was done to manage queues at its outlets
- The lower prize money did not deter punters from going down to the various outlets on Friday
- Snaking queues were seen at five Toto outlets TODAY visited, with the longest one seen at Fu Lu Shou Complex in Rochor
SINGAPORE — Since she won S$200 from a S$10 bet she placed during the Toto Hongbao draw two years ago, Ms Cindy Chio makes it a yearly practice to return to the same lottery outlet at 24 Bendemeer Road in hopes of scoring another winning ticket.
The 39-year-old equity research editor, who lives in the vicinity, said that she was merely trying her luck and did not have high hopes of bagging the S$9.6 million jackpot this year.
She was among scores of punters — some of whom braved the hot sun on Friday (Feb 26) — who joined long queues at Singapore Pools outlets islandwide to buy their bets.
The jackpot for the Toto Hongbao draw — which coincides with the annual Chinese New Year celebrations — has been lowered from S$12 million to S$8 million this year.
Singapore Pools said that this was done to manage queues at its outlets since the health and safety of customers, employees and the public remain its top priority.
As there were no winners in the last Toto draw, the jackpot has snowballed to a S$9.6 million prize for the Hongbao draw, although the eventual amount will depend on actual sales.
The lower prize money did not deter punters from going down to the various outlets selling tickets on Friday.
Snaking queues were seen at five Toto outlets TODAY visited, with the longest one seen at Fu Lu Shou Complex in Rochor, which had more than 60 people in line at about 2pm.
Long queues were also seen at other branches, including the ones at the housing towns of Hougang, Ang Mo Kio and Bendemeer.
Businessman David Lim, 52, who was queueing outside Delisia Agency at Fu Lu Shou Complex, told TODAY that he travelled from Toa Payoh to place his bets at that outlet because he believes that it has been blessed by the god of fortune.
Similarly, a financial analyst who wanted to be known only as Mr Song said that he once won S$1,000 after placing a S$10 bet at the outlet and has since bought his bets there every year without fail.
Over at Tong Aik Huat — a popular authorised retailer at Block 685, Hougang St 61 where previous winning tickets were bought — 30 punters waited patiently in the queue that was orderly and moving quickly.
One of them was Mr Ong Kim Beng, 70, who said that the long queues were expected, even during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Whether the jackpot prize is S$8 million or S$12 million, money is money. If got such draws, there will definitely be long queues because we all want to try our luck.”
Mr George Anand, who went to the Singapore Pools outlet at Block 726, Ang Mo Kio Avenue 6, said that he felt safe because the line was moving fast and people were standing a metre apart.
“I feel like the risk level is the same as queueing up at a shopping mall or a supermarket. There’s no difference,” the 58-year-old security manager added.
Two Singapore Pools officers were seen reminding people to maintain a distance from one another at its Ang Mo Kio outlet.
Singapore Pools said that it had deployed more officers on the ground to ensure safe management measures are observed at all outlets.
In response to TODAY’s request for comments on the long queues, Singapore Pools said: “We note that there are queues outside some outlets and we would like to thank our customers for keeping to safe management measures and co-operating with our ground assistants.”
It also urged customers to use its online betting services.
Homemaker Serene Gan, 47, said that she decided to queue up at the Tong Aik Huat outlet in Hougang out of habit instead of using the online site.
Like some other punters, she believes that the outlet is one of the “huat” outlets that would bring luck.
“I always go here because I believe it’s a lucky outlet. How to do that online?” she asked.
The results of the draw will be announced at 9.30pm on Friday.
