In Singapore, prize promotions and contests are legal. However, the laws are complex, and it’s important to understand them in order to avoid any problems. Prize promotions are governed by the Betting and Sweepstake Duties Act. The act provides a framework for how to conduct prize promotions, which includes the following:
Contests are also regulated by the law, and the rules must be clear and fair. In addition, there must be a reasonable chance of winning. The rules should explain the prizes, the entry fees (or other costs) and how to participate in the contest. Contests must also comply with the laws relating to advertising, including the Advertising and Promotions Guidelines.
The Singapore Prize was established in 2014 by an anonymous donor. The Department of History at NUS oversees the prize, which aims to broaden definitions of what constitutes history by encouraging writing that covers many perspectives and themes that are relevant to Singapore’s past. The prize is awarded triennially. Eligible works must be published in English and have a significant Singapore element in their narratives. They must be available for sale or distribution, and self-published books are not eligible. The prize comes with a cash award of $3,000 and an engraved trophy. It is Singapore’s second highest literary prize, after the Epigram Books Fiction Prize.
This year’s winners include a first-time winner in the English creative non-fiction category, Mok Zining, whose book The Orchid Folios features poems by her mother and grandmother. Other finalists include the directors of the Singapore Writers Festival, Yeow Kai Chai and Pooja Nansi, along with Mohd Afifuddin Ahmad, Daryl Qilin Yam and Jee Leong Koh in the poetry category. Several authors made their debut in the Tamil literature category, including Suratman Markasan and rma cureess (Rama Suresh).
The judges of the awards are leading industry figures from the luxury, fashion, hospitality and design sectors. The winner receives a monetary prize, media coverage across Vogue Singapore and valuable insights from world-class industry experts. This year, the research and development company COzTERRA won the prize. The prize is presented by BMW Group Asia, in partnership with INSIDE and Vogue Singapore. The winners are honoured at a gala event in November, alongside the Asia Pacific Interior Design Awards 2023.
