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.

As there were no winners in 123betthe 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.

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,123bet 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.”123bet