As a Singaporean, you’ve probably heard of 4D and TOTO, but how much do you know about the government-owned gambling company that has brought them to you? Singapore Pools was established on 23 May 1968 to counter illegal gambling activities and provide people with a trusted, safe avenue for betting. The organisation has since grown its roster of products, delivering a variety of different ways for Singaporeans to bet responsibly and offer a legitimate alternative to illegal gambling avenues.
The company’s portfolio includes Toto, Singapore Sweep and 4D. Toto is a state lottery game first introduced in 1968, while Singapore Sweep is a seven-digit lottery drawn each month. 4D, which first hit the market in 1986, offers a four-digit lottery format with prize draws every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. The company also introduced sports betting in 1999, initially focusing on football, before expanding to include motorsport and horse racing in the years that followed.
Ahead of its 50th anniversary, the organisation launched a new app which enables customers to access a suite of Safer Play tools and features. These allow players to limit their deposits, withdrawals and account betting limits. They can also set their own budgets and use the Affordability Calculator to ensure they play within their means. Additionally, the app also allows users to check their balance at any time and view recent transactions.
Singapore Pools has also been working towards becoming a “Company for Good”. It has leveraged its technological capital to set up iShine Cloud, an IT platform that provides other charities with a suite of solutions that will help them to improve their productivity, governance and efficiency to better serve their beneficiaries. It has already onboarded 31 charities with 1,512 users and intends to scale up the solution in 2022.
Yeo is spearheading a digital transformation strategy to shift Singapore Pools from a legacy organisation to an agile and digitally empowered business. In addition to revamping its website and introducing a mobile app, the company is incorporating greater digitalisation in its operations to meet customer expectations and better manage risks such as money laundering.
In addition to its technology initiatives, the company has made efforts to boost employee engagement and work-life balance. It has set up forums for staff to share opinions and feedback and the results have been incorporated into its ongoing strategy. It also offers a wide range of benefits including flexible working arrangements and support for employees who are pregnant or breastfeeding. In addition, the company has been recognised as a “CARE” employer at this year’s Workplace Health and Safety Awards. The CARE award highlights employers with exemplary practices that promote mental well-being in the workplace. This is in line with the organisation’s commitment to empowering its people and building an inclusive culture.