Lottery fever is building in Singapore after the upcoming Singapore Pools TOTO draw on May 4 saw its jackpot swell to an estimated S$10 million.
The massive prize comes after three consecutive draws failed to produce a Group 1 winner, triggering what is known as a cascade draw. The special draw is scheduled to take place at 9.30pm on Monday night, later than the usual 6.30pm timing.
According to Singapore Pools, the jackpot continued snowballing following unsuccessful Group 1 draws held on Apr. 23, Apr. 27, and Apr. 30.
During the Apr. 30 draw, there were 10 Group 2 winners, while the Apr. 27 draw produced only three Group 2 winners. The Apr. 23 session had just a single Group 2 winner.
As a result, the top prize pool rose rapidly from around S$1.23 million on Apr. 23 to nearly S$3 million on Apr. 27 before surging past S$5.7 million by Apr. 30.
What Happens During A Cascade Draw
A cascade draw occurs when no Group 1 winner emerges across three straight draws. Under Singapore Pools rules, if there is still no Group 1 winner during the fourth draw, the jackpot will be distributed among Group 2 winners instead.
If there are no Group 2 winners, the prize money cascades further down to Group 3 winners, and so on.
These high-stakes draws often generate significant public attention as punters hope to secure life-changing payouts. Long queues are also commonly seen at betting outlets across Singapore whenever jackpots reach eight figures.
For the upcoming draw, ticket sales will remain open until 9pm, giving players additional time before the late-night event begins.
The growing popularity of large jackpot draws has also fuelled increased discussions around personal finance, wealth management, and responsible gambling habits among Singaporeans seeking financial windfalls amid rising living costs.
Previous Massive Jackpot Shared By Multiple Winners
The previous cascade draw this year took place on Jan. 29 and featured an even larger jackpot worth S$13.5 million.
That draw eventually produced six winning tickets, with the jackpot split among the winners.
In total, Singapore recorded 12 cascade draws throughout last year, averaging roughly one per month as jackpots repeatedly rolled over due to the absence of Group 1 winners.
The last successful Group 1 winner before the current rollover streak emerged on Apr. 20, when a single ticket holder walked away with approximately S$2.98 million.
Earlier this year, the annual TOTO Hong Bao Draw also attracted widespread attention after its jackpot expanded to S$12 million, which was eventually shared among three winning tickets.
With the latest jackpot now hitting S$10 million, betting activity is expected to intensify over the weekend as hopeful participants try their luck ahead of Monday’s highly anticipated draw.