4-D :
Singapore’s most popular gambling pastime
4-D is the most popular gambling pastime with 53% of Singaporeans
participating in the lottery. 64% of the gamblers first started with 4-D and
78% began regular gambling with it. 4-D is also the most popular gambling
activity among probable pathological gamblers.
Background
Introduced in the `80s, 4-D is a four-digit lottery held on the weekends. In
the lottery, players place their bet on any number combination from 0000 to
9999 out of which 23 winning numbers will be picked. Starting from 9 Aug
2000, a Wednesday draw was added to the 4-D calendar. On 16 June 2005,
Singapore Pools launched the iBet system, a cheaper way to place bet on all
permutations of 4 numbers. The biggest 4-D win was $14 million won by a man
in his 40s during a draw in September 2005. His bet for a single draw was
estimated to be between $4,667 and $7,000.
The quest for lucky numbers
It is a common sight to see motorists slowed down at accident sites to take
down the registration numbers of accident vehicles for their 4-D bets.
Punters were also known to flock remote parts of Singapore and Malaysia to
pray to deities reputed for giving winning numbers. After the recent
high-profile murder cases, punters turned up at the funerals and murder
sites of Huang Na and Liu Hong Mei to pray and seek lucky numbers. Outside
Fulushou complex at Rochor Rd, many gathered to hear an elderly man talked
about picking winning numbers. Still, others visited websites for strategy
to beat the odds. In 2002, many Singaporeans kept the Luohan fish, rumoured
to be lucky fish, to decipher their spots and markings for lucky numbers.
Many aquariums sprung up to cash in on the craze and the most expensive
breed reportedly fetched US$320,000.
4-D in the news
On 7 March 2005, a man, plagued by gambling debts, jumped to his death after
killing his family. In this suicide note to his pastor, he wrote about a
painful miss after betting his last chance on 4-D. On 17 February 2006, the
government announced cash handouts of $200 to $800 to Singaporeans. When
polled, some Singaporeans indicated that they will spent the money on 4-D.
The mentality has caused some members of parliaments to question the effect
of these handouts in helping needy Singaporeans. Two recent high-profile
crimes were also linked to 4-D. On 7 February 2006, a man armed with a
semi-automatic pistol fired a shot at a security guard after robbing a
lottery outlet at Sembawang. A week later, a nightclub owner was murdered in
execution-style over an alleged 4-D betting dispute.
Timeline
August 1943 : The Japanese held Singapores first state lotteries.
23 May 1968 : Singapore Pools Pte Ltd was established as Singapores legal
lottery operator.
26 May 1986 : 4-D was sold using computerised system.
9 Aug 2000 : Wednesdays run of 4-D started.
16 June 2005 : iBet was introduced.
National Library Board Singapore
On 18 April 2004, Prime Minister Lee Hsien
Loong announced the government's decision to build two integrated resorts,
in Marina South and Sentosa. Even before the two casinos open their doors,
Singaporeans are already gambling away billions of dollars each year.
Singapore Pools, the government-linked lottery operator, revealed that it
has a yearly turnover of $4 billion, which works out to a staggering $11
million per day. Not including illegal betting or speculation in the stock
or derivatives, at least $7 billion was spent on gambling in 2004. A survey
conducted by the Ministry of Communication Development, Youth and Sports
(MCYS) in early 2005 indicated that 58% of the Singaporeans aged 18 years
and above had gambled over the past one year , with 2.1% in danger of
gambling addiction. In an another survey conducted between March and May
2006, six in ten Singaporeans had gambled over past 12 months from the time
of the survey.
In Singapore, a gambler spent an average of $244 every month on their
stakes. The lottery games offered by the Singapore Pools were most popular,
with 4-D, Toto and Singapore Sweep taking the top three spots with more than
30% participation rate. Social gambling, defined as mahjong and card games
by the survey, was fourth, with a 17% participation rate. Scratch it!, a
scratched-and-win game launched a couple of months before the survey was
conducted, gained quick popularity with 12% participation rate. The less
popular gambling pastimes of Singapore include table games and slot machines
in local and overseas venues, sports betting, horse betting and online
gambling. However, more money was spent on these less popular activities. An
average of $387 and $288 were spent every month on sports betting and table
games in cruises and casinos respectively. The average betting amount for
4-D, Toto and Singapore Sweep were only $93, $48 and $27. A survey conducted
by Ngee Ann Polytechnic in 2003 also revealed that 40% of Singaporeans
between the age 40 and 59 do not have sufficient retirement fund and were
counting on Toto and 4-D windfall.
It has become a common sight to see motorists and passers-by take down
registration numbers of accident vehicles for their 4-D ventures. Some
audacious punters even appeared at murder sites and funerals of the victims
to pray or look for lucky numbers. There were also complaints that the TV
charity shows, with their "donate and win big prizes" appeals, were being
publicised like lottery to entice Singaporeans.
National Library Board Singapore
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