Singapore reading rewards offer virtual coins for completing at least 15 minutes of daily reading, using small incentives and gamification to encourage a lasting habit.
SINGAPORE: Singapore reading rewards are turning a simple daily activity into a nationwide challenge, with residents able to collect virtual coins for spending at least 15 minutes a day reading.
The initiative forms part of ReadSG, a five-year national reading movement launched by Singapore’s National Library Board on September 6. Its goal is less about helping readers earn money and more about encouraging them to make focused reading part of everyday life.
Participants use the government’s CrowdTaskSG platform to record their reading. A qualifying session of at least 15 minutes earns 20 virtual coins, with only one session eligible each day.
Once a reader accumulates 1,000 coins, they can redeem them for S$1. That means someone would need to complete the daily reading goal on 50 separate days to earn a single Singapore dollar.
Why is Singapore rewarding people for reading?
The small payment is only one element of the programme.
Singapore reading rewards are combined with gamification features including personal goals, reading streaks, experience points and visible progress. The idea is to make starting and maintaining a reading routine feel achievable rather than turning books into a source of income.
ReadSG recommends 15 minutes because it is short enough to fit into ordinary routines, such as a commute, coffee break or time before bed.
The wider concern is the growing competition for people’s attention from smartphones and short-form digital content.
National Library Board chief executive Melissa Tam has said long-form reading helps strengthen attention, critical thinking and imagination. ReadSG’s official message similarly describes reading as a way to strengthen people’s ability to focus, think critically and understand the world.
Can S$1 really encourage people to read?
Behavioural experts suggest the amount of money may be less important than the structure surrounding it.
Ivo Vlaev, a behavioural psychology professor at the National University of Singapore, told The Guardian that incentives do not necessarily work in proportion to their monetary value. Progress tracking can provide an immediate signal that a person’s effort has been recognised.
The Singapore reading rewards could therefore act as a small nudge for people who already want to read but struggle to begin consistently.
The programme is currently being piloted through the end of 2026, allowing the National Library Board to gather feedback before introducing further features. It also includes a Read for Good initiative linking reading time with charitable fundraising.
The longer-term test will come later: whether readers continue opening their books once virtual coins and other rewards are no longer the motivation.
Impact to expect
Habits. If the experiment succeeds, Singapore could offer an interesting example of how governments can use small rewards and gamification to encourage reading without making the financial incentive the main attraction.
