Deterrent actions, including suspension or termination of accounts, have been taken against users engaging in errant behaviour.
“Since the launch of MyActiveSG+ in July this year, 49 accounts have been suspended, are pending suspension or are under investigation due to misuse through scripting (in relation to bots) and on-selling. Of these 49 accounts, 31 were due to scripting.
“SportSG urges members of the public to refrain from purchasing slots from resellers taking advantage of these subsidised facilities for personal gains.”
MyActiveSG+, the newly launched web-based booking platform, is designed to tackle issues such as bots and provide all users with an equal chance to secure peak-hour slots through a balloting system.
Non-peak-hour slots and unassigned peak-hour slots after the balloting period are available on a first-come-first-served basis.
“WILLING BUYER, WILLING SELLER”
Out of the 20 hosts CNA TODAY approached, four replied. The rest declined participation or did not reply.
Those who replied said that various considerations are made before deciding on how to split up the cost for each player. Factors considered include peak-hour and non-peak-hour rates, the shuttlecocks used during a game, and the effort it takes to “mobilise manpower” to ballot for courts together to increase chances of success.
A host, who wanted to be known as just Mr Chua, 28, said that the balloting system has made securing public courts for his group more difficult. However, he declined to give the full details when asked how he still successfully offered playing opportunities at different courts.
“I can only say that it is just badminton players who want to play will ballot the slots together. Sometimes, family members help, too,” he said.
Mr Chua added that he did not “find anything wrong with it” because he is providing a service for players, and it is not easy to book the courts at good times.
“Some people may dislike hosts who profit, but on the other hand, some people struggle to find others to play with them. That’s why they join games hosted by others.”
Ms Licya Hu, organiser of a badminton club, said that she holds such sessions five to six days a week because her group has more than 1,800 members.
“Everyone says balloting is difficult, but since we have a large group, I have more than 30 members who can help, which increases our chances,” she said.
Off-peak weekday games organised by her group typically costs S$7.90 a player and weekends are S$9.90, slightly less than the S$8 for off-peak and S$10 for peak period that other groups charge. The games would have six players to a court including herself, she added.
The costs are usually shared for court, shuttlecocks and membership fees. For example, a Meetup membership fee is around S$40 a month for event organisers.
“The biggest cost is the shuttlecocks, which vary in price. We usually use RSL Supreme, the most common brand in Singapore, which costs about S$30 to S$32 for a tube,” Ms Hu said.
“After covering the costs of courts, shuttlecocks and membership fees, we may have a few dollars left, which we save for our own competitions or overseas badminton trips to Malaysia.”
