You’re probably familiar with the names 4D and TOTO, but how much do you know about the establishment that brings you these betting games? Singapore Pools was established more than half a century ago, on 23 May 1968!

Since its inception, Singapore Pools has played a major role in fighting illegal gambling. Their mission was to provide people who bet with a safe and trusted environment, so that they can channel their winnings back into supporting the community through charities instead of lining the pockets of illegal bookies.

With this mission in mind, they have embarked on a digitalisation journey to stay on top of gaming trends and remain effective in stemming leakages to illegal gambling operators while upholding strict regulations. They partnered with Oracle Cloud Infrastructure to migrate their on-premise applications monitoring system to the cloud, so they can improve IT operations and deliver better service to their customers.

In the 2019/2020 financial year, Singapore Pools collected close to S$9bn in lottery and sports bets, of which about 70% was returned to winning players and the rest was collected as taxes and donations. Of this, 5% went to the Tote Board to support arts and community development, charity, education, health, and sports sectors while 3% was used for operating costs.

As part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, Singapore Pools also set up iShine Cloud in 2018. iShine Cloud is a non-profit IT social enterprise that provides other charities with a comprehensive suite of charity-specific solutions on a secure cloud-based IT platform at a discounted rate. Since its inception, iShine Cloud has onboarded 24 new charities and more than 400 users to date.

The iShine Cloud team is looking to continue to grow their user base and expand its services in order to help more charities with their digital transformation efforts. In the near future, iShine Cloud plans to introduce additional functionality and features to its solution, such as a dashboard that will enable charities to track their data and performance. Additionally, the team hopes to bring in more partners who can complement its offering with their own solutions.

As for the iShine Cloud app itself, it’s currently only available for iOS devices. However, the team has promised that an Android version will be out soon. In the meantime, Android users can access the app’s content on their gizmos or devices by visiting the official website.

If you want to enjoy the beauty of the sdy pools, you can visit one of Sydney’s many world-class aquatic centres. Many of these offer a range of activities that the whole family can enjoy, including swim training programs for adults and children, water slides, fountains, and more. Many also host competitions and swimming events throughout the year.

Alternatively, you can try your hand at water sports and other water activities at the beach. Some of Sydney’s most beautiful beaches have ocean pools, where you can relax and enjoy the ocean breeze while sipping on a refreshing drink from the pool bar. Some of the best ocean pools in Sydney are located in Coogee and Bondi, where you can enjoy sweeping views across the Pacific Ocean to Wedding Cake Island and beyond.

Aside from the pools, you can also find a number of great water parks and leisure centres in Sydney. Some of them feature fun slides, splash pads, and interactive water games that will surely get the kids clamouring for more time in the water. Others have restaurants and cafes, as well as children’s playgrounds. The Sydney Aquatic Centre has a wave pool, which is turned on every hour during school holidays from 12pm-3pm.

Other great places to visit for a fun day out with the family include the Bondi Icebergs, which is a giant, recirculating indoor skating rink that opens seasonally and offers a wide variety of skating activities, including figure skating and synchronised skating. The Bondi Beach is another must-visit, especially during the summer, where you can swim, surf, sunbathe, and take a scenic stroll along the golden sands.

You can also head over to Wylie’s Baths in Coogee, which is one of the city’s most beautiful tidal pools. These were built by champion long-distance and underwater swimmer Henry Alexander Wylie in 1907. The pool is nestled between sandstone cliffs, and features raised decking and a large, deep lagoon. If you are looking for an aquatic adventure, you can even go snorkelling with a guide and explore the marine life at this tidal pool.

You can also opt to use a heat pump or gas heater to keep your pool warm. A heat pump is cheaper to run than a gas heater, but you will have to wait longer for the pool to reach your desired temperature. Gas heaters, on the other hand, can be very expensive to operate, as they will constantly run at full power – even when the pool is not being used. You can also try using a solar electric panel to offset the running costs of your pool. However, you should be aware that this will increase the amount of electricity your home consumes, which could affect your energy bill. Regardless of which option you choose, you will need to do some research and consider the pros and cons of each before making a final decision. If you’re unsure, it’s always best to consult an expert before choosing a heating system for your pool.