You look at the group 1 prize pool for this draw only $12.6 million, it shows that most gamblers are running out of money to hoot big.
Usually such big draws will go to $13m or $14m for final group 1 prize pool. More people spend on tickets, higher the prize pool.
I thought it was based on actual bets that accumulated to above the min guaranteed prize of 12m
For example, If the accumulated amount only reached $11m by closing time, sg pools will top up the difference to make it $12m.
Thats why if u look at the hong bao draw on 7 Feb 2020, the group 1 prize was exactly $12m. Meaning the accumulated bets did not reach $12m, so sgpool top up to meet the min guaranteed $12m.
So for this year's (2024) draw, it was actually so many people buy until it surpassed 12m ($12.6m)