Singapore Pools has been operating for more than half a century since it first launched on 23 May 1968 as a government-owned betting games provider to its citizens, serving to legalise gambling while curtailing illegal ones. Furthermore, 97% of revenue collected annually goes back into community projects such as funding landmark buildings such as Kallang National Stadium.
Singapore Pools’ product roster has grown over time. Singapore Pools first introduced Toto in 1968, followed by four-digit game 4D in 1986 and horse racing in 2009. Since 2009, sports betting has also been included as part of their portfolio; currently featuring football betting odds comparable with motor racing and horse racing events allowing bettors to easily place bets online.
Apart from providing sports betting offerings, Singapore Pools also invests heavily in human capital development. In 2020 alone, it awarded over 220 scholarships to social service agencies and charities; its training arm Singapore Pools Academy offers learning resources designed to equip these organisations and charities with the skills needed to serve their communities effectively; most recently it was honored at the 15th Singapore HR Awards as an Employer of Choice due to its best practices in recruiting, engaging and retaining its staff.
Singapore Pools’ charitable donations take several forms. Their cash and prizes have helped fund numerous causes – such as President’s Challenge, which raised over 1,500 beneficiaries; additionally, over the last decade Singapore Pools paid out $2 billion in taxes and duties to the Government – contributing an average annual amount of $5 Million per year to charity and community initiatives.
This company prides itself on having an ingrained culture of giving back, which can be seen through various initiatives to engage staff with volunteering opportunities. Last year alone, its staff volunteerism rate reached 70%, well above industry norms of 37 per cent. Furthermore, a dedicated team oversees and coordinates their volunteering program, working closely with community partners to identify areas in need.
Recently, this company introduced iShine Cloud as a non-profit IT social enterprise to provide other charities in Singapore with secure cloud-based IT platforms for improving operations and programming. They have also transformed 15,000 sq feet at their Bukit Merah branch into rent-free volunteer space that staff can use rent free as volunteering hub. They plan to expand this program across other outlets over time as evidence of their dedication to helping the community reflected by supporting NTUC Fairprice charity supermarket.