SportSG to launch new booking platform to combat bots, multiple accounts

[The_King]

SINGAPORE: Sport Singapore (SportSG) will launch a new booking platform in June to combat the use of bots and multiple accounts to book its sports facilities.

The issue came into the spotlight after reports surfaced that slots were being booked out by accounts using bots or scripted programmes.

 

Between 2021 and March 2023, more than 200 ActiveSG accounts were suspended for suspected use of bots to book sports facilities, and more than 600 bookings were cancelled due to "on-selling", Communications and Information Minister Josephine Teo said in a written parliamentary reply in March last year.

My ActiveSG+

The refreshed platform, My ActiveSG+, is part of SportSG’s continued efforts to ensure easy and fair access to the booking of public sport facilities and programmes, the statutory board said in a media release on Friday (May 3).

It will also cater to the changing habits and demands of members, SportSG added. 

MyActiveSG+ will contain features developed off feedback from users of SportSG’s membership management system as well as the recently piloted ActiveSG Beta. 

The latter was introduced in March as a trial version of the upcoming booking system. The trial will end on Jun 14. 

 

MyActiveSG+ will be launched on Jun 15.

SINGPASS AND BALLOTS 

Users of MyActiveSG+ will be required to sign up and login with their Singpass to prevent people from holding multiple accounts or using bots for booking facilities and programmes. 

A balloting feature for booking peak hour slots will also be available. Users will be able to ballot for slots 14 days before the date of play and the results will be released the next day by noon.

Members with successful ballots will have to pay to confirm their slots by 11.59pm that day.

Unassigned slots from the balloting exercise will then be released the following day, 12 days before the date of use, for booking on a first-come-first-serve basis.

 

Bookings for non-peak hour slots will remain on a first-come-first-serve basis and will also be available 12 days prior to the date of use.

Peak hours are 6pm to 10pm from Mondays to Fridays, and 7am to 10pm on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

USER-CENTRIC FEATURES

MyActiveSG+ will be a web-based platform, which allows users to access its updated version at all times on their devices without having to install and regularly update a mobile app.

Parents or guardians will soon be able to link their children to their accounts through Singpass, said SportSG. “Family accounts” will also be introduced on the new platform in time to come.

A feature for refunds and cancellations will also be rolled out at a later stage.

WHEN AND HOW THE LAUNCH WILL HAPPEN

The transition to MyActiveSG+ will take on a “progressive approach”, said SportSG. 

From Jun 15, members will be able to login to the platform. As part of ActiveSG’s 10th anniversary celebrations, those who log in between Jun 15 and Aug 31 will receive a one-time top up of S$10 (US$7) ActiveSG anniversary credits.

From Jul 15, all facilities and programmes will be available for booking. Booking windows will open 14 days in advance from date of facility use or programme commencement.

From Aug 15, seasonal and day passes to swimming pools and gyms will also be available for purchase. 

The current ActiveSG platform will remain accessible till Oct 1.

ACTIVESG CREDITS AND ACTIVE WALLET

ActiveSG credits will be migrated to MyActiveSG+ between Jun 15 and Jun 30. 

During this period, users of the existing system may continue to pay for bookings and purchases using credit or debit cards.

Users of MyActiveSG+ will be able to pay for bookings and purchases using credit or debit cards as well as PayNow. The S$10 ActiveSG anniversary credits can also be used to offset bookings on MyActiveSG+.

Members will be able to start using their ActiveSG credits on MyActiveSG+ by Jul 1.

All ActiveSG credits will also be extended to Dec 31, 2025. 

On the otherhand, the Active Wallet - MyCash will be decommissioned in mid-August and top-ups will cease on May 15. 

ActiveSG members will be able to use the balance in their Active Wallet till Aug 14 while any remaining funds will be refunded via their Paynow-NRIC-linked bank account by Aug 31. 

The decision to roll out MyActiveSG+ to members in a progressive manner from June 2024 is to "ensure that we give time for our members to familiarise themselves with the new app", said Alan Goh, CEO, SportSG.

It is also to "give ourselves room to make further adjustments based on usage patterns and more feedback from our members as additional features are progressively introduced", he added.

Source: CNA/rl(rj)