Three‑day Tech Carnival and a Box of Surprises
During the bustling three‑day Comex tech trade fair in Singapore, a local retailer called The Auction House started a frenzy that was more akin to a treasure hunt than a shopping spree.
What went on
- Customers bought a $6 “mystery parcel” and raced to see what popped out.
- On Facebook Live, the founder, Ms Melissa Wix, opened boxes to reveal goodies like an eye massager and a vacuum flask.
- The prices of the items weren’t mentioned; the only certainty was that you had to pay the same flat fee for a box that could contain anything.
Are mystery boxes legal in Singapore?
Not quite. Singapore’s gambling laws don’t explicitly outlaw these “mystery boxes”. Still, the police consider them a form of public lottery, as they proved back in 2018 with vending machines. The new police report framed the sale as a risky gamble – the same risk that backs a casino slot machine.
Police action
Both the Police Force and the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) have flagged the incident. Currently, an inquiry is in progress, so if you’ve paid for a mystery box, you might want to keep an eye on your inbox.
Legal experts weigh in
Mr Lau Kok Keng, a lawyer at Rajah & Tann Singapore, points out that although the Gambling Control Act has no outright definition, the game of chance is still there. “You pay the same amount for a box that may hold items worth the same or a lot less than another buyer’s batch,” he says.
Professor Sharon Ng of Nanyang Business School hopes for a balanced approach: perhaps the box can be sold only for a few days or once a month, to keep it from turning into a snowball effect that encourages addiction.
Retailers’ perspective
Dr Lynda Wee shares that mystery boxes are a wild way to off‑load surplus stock at a discount, letting shoppers feel like they’ve snagged a special gift.
She stresses that, when regulated, these boxes are far less dangerous than gambling with money. “Just like opening a birthday present, you might get diamond or a rock of gum.” (And you can’t lose your house in the process!).
Bottom line
If you see a mystery parcel on sale, watch your finances and consider whether the thrill of unboxing beats the fine print. Singapore governments are talking openly about caps that could keep the $100‑limit in place and continue to monitor this “gambling” craze.
Stay tuned for the official verdict – because even if you get nothing but a single sock, you’ll still be part of the story that’s making headlines.
