Ten days after Singapore Pools moved into new premises in the Bugis area, the lottery operator's new street address came out tops in the 4-D lottery draw.
The "210" digits of its Middle Road address were the first three numbers drawn for Feb 16's first prize combination. A punter betting $1 small on the winning combination of 2102 would have won $3,000.
On Sunday, Pools chairman Bernard Chen said at the building's opening ceremony that its location, at the junction of Middle Road and Prinsep Street, is a "boon" to customers and staff as it is near four MRT stations - Bugis, Bras Basah, Dhoby Ghaut and Little India. A fifth, Bencoolen, will be ready by 2017 with the opening of the new Downtown train line.
The building includes a hall where draws are made and a sports entertainment venue. Mr Chen stressed that the organisation's mission is to channel resources and proceeds to the Singapore Totalisator Board for donations to good causes.
"It is important that there is a balance between retaining customers and staying on course as a responsible gaming operator," he said.
The board, which owns Singapore Pools, is one of the biggest grant-making organisations here. It channels surpluses from horse-racing, 4-D and Toto betting and casino-entry levies to projects in areas such as social services and health care. In the last financial year, it approved donations to the tune of $1.2 billion.
The board announced at Sunday's ceremony that it would contribute $301.9 million to the Tote Board Social Service Fund in financial years 2013 to 2015 to "meet the growing needs of the social service sector".
This fund is administered by the National Council of Social Service. Pledges swelled from $126.2 million in financial years 2007 to 2009, to $164.8 million in financial years 2010 to 2012.
Guests at the opening included Minister of State for Finance and Transport Josephine Teo, Acting Minister for Social and Family Development Chan Chun Sing and representatives from the World Lottery Association.