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Korea Herald
11-07-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
More students in Singapore juggle studying and working to support their families
SINGAPORE (Straits Times/ANN) -- Throughout her three years in polytechnic, 21-year-old Amillie Chan spent every evening after class serving customers and preparing food at Mexican-themed fast food chain Guzman y Gomez. Chan, who graduated in May from Nanyang Polytechnic with a diploma in food and beverage business, worked up to five hours a day on weekdays and 12 hours a day on weekends -- all while studying full-time. While there is no official data on the number of students who have to study and work to support their families, social service agency Allkin Singapore said that it has seen a more than threefold increase in the number of post-secondary students aged 17 and above who have to work while studying, from five in 2024 to 17 in 2025. This is according to data gathered from applications for its Allkin ElevatED! study grant. Natalie Lim, deputy director of the family and community support division at Allkin Singapore, said that this increase "suggests a growing trend of students having to assume financial responsibilities while pursuing their education." The Ministry of Education said that in academic year 2023, over 70 percent of Singaporeans studying at the Institute of Technical Education and around 50 percent of Singaporeans studying in polytechnics received the Higher Education Community Bursary and the Higher Education Bursary. The figures have remained stable over the past five years, MOE added. These are government bursaries for post-secondary students from lower- to middle-income group households that help them to offset tuition fees. Families eligible for the Higher Education Community Bursary take home $4,400 or less monthly, while families eligible for the Higher Education bursary take home $10,000 or less monthly. Sharing their families' burden For some students, working part-time is a choice they make to help supplement their family's income. Second-year Temasek Polytechnic business student Lucas Lim works part-time as a retail assistant at Fairprice to alleviate the financial burden on his 63-year-old bus captain father, who is the sole breadwinner of the family, which includes his 56-year-old homemaker mother and two older brothers, aged 25 and 29. The 18-year-old said of his father, who is looking to retirement soon: "I've seen him working tirelessly for his entire life. I want to be able to carry some of the burden for him." When Singapore Polytechnic civil engineering student Yap Jie Er started working at Takagi Ramen as a kitchen crew member in October 2021, she did it for her own extra pocket money. Two months later, it became a necessity for her to own her own keep after her father died from cancer. "I stopped taking an allowance from my mum. Since I was earning my own money, I wanted my mum to be able to give more allowance to my three younger siblings," said Yap, 20, whose younger siblings are aged 18, 11 and seven years old respectively. Jennifer Lau, a third-year immersive media student at Ngee Ann Polytechnic, works once a week as a retail assistant at a Lego store. She would like to work more, but she cannot do so because she has to juggle studies as well as visiting her father in a nursing home. Her father was admitted to a nursing home to receive full-time care in November 2023, after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, a neurodegenerative disease that leads to difficulty with walking, balance, coordination and even speech. Lau, 23, earns about $400 a month during the school term. Most of her salary is spent on personal expenses like food and transport costs, as well as food for her father when she visits him two to three times a week. For now, her household bills and her father's nursing home costs are covered by her father's savings and her school fees are covered by financial assistance programs. "The biggest challenge of working and studying at the same time is that I can't work enough. I want to be able to work more," said Lau, who has no siblings. How they balance school and work Many students who work part-time focus on academics during the weekdays and go to their jobs on weekends. Yap would work up to two shifts at Takagi Ramen every weekend. Each shift lasted from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Her job involved preparing drinks, serving customers and assisting the ramen chef. Mi Yap recalls that she had to be on her feet throughout her shifts except during a one-hour break each shift. She said, "Standing all day can be tiring, especially during the evening peak hours when it's extremely busy. We (also) have to stay a 100 percent focused on our work without making any mistakes." Despite working only twice per week, Yap's part-time job took a toll on her studies. She said, "I would be too tired (from work) to study on weekends, so I would often stay up past midnight to catch up on studies during weekdays." "Sometimes, when I am sleeping, I would even have dreams about working (at my job). It definitely affected my concentration in class and there's been an obvious drop in my grades," said Yap, whose grade point average has dropped from 3.4 to 3.2. She stopped working in July 2024 in order to focus on her studies as she is in her final year. Financial aid programs, such as the bond-free HSBC Centenary Scholarship she won in 2023 and 2024, have helped with her financial situation. She said, "It's allowed me to work less and have more time to focus on studies and socialising." Spending money for oneself For Lim, working part-time means having to sacrifice time that could be spent on co-curricular activities or socializing. He said, "I don't have much of a chance to rest, so I'm usually too exhausted from work to participate in sports." "CCAs I'm interested in, like dragonboat and archery, train only on the weekends, so I'm unable to commit due to my work." Not only does he miss socialising with his friends due to his work commitments on the weekends, he also feels like his life is about "constantly running from task to task." "I have no time to unwind," he said. Lau said her sacrifice is in terms of the things she wants but does not need. "I wish that I could spend some of the money I earn on things I want to buy. Sometimes I'll see things like games or (video game) consoles and tell myself that I'm going to buy it next month, but that next month never comes around," she said. When she first began working, she often found herself comparing her situation with those of her classmates. "Why do I have to work while they don't? Why can they have things that I can't?" she would think. "But as I've gotten older, I've gotten more used to it and I've realized that everyone has different journeys any way." Lau said that despite the challenges, she has benefited from her time working and studying at the same time. She said, "It's helped me improve my confidence and built important skills I'll need for working in the real world, like public speaking." Senior clinical and counseling psychologist at Allkin Singapore Tan Ying Yin said that working at a young age can benefit students, "It provides early opportunities to develop essential life skills. Through work, youth can learn valuable skills such as time management and financial responsibility." Lim agrees. "Working has given me a new perspective. It's developed my time management skills, and it's taught me to be disciplined and resolved," he said. "Even though I may be exhausted now, I think it'll benefit me in the long run. I want to take these skills to give my dad peace of mind when he retires, and contribute to a better future for my family." What are the impacts of studying and working to support the household simultaneously? Allkin Singapore's Lim said students who have to study and work to support their households face "significant challenges," including difficulty focusing on academics due to the demands of multiple roles and persistent worries about having enough financial resources to meet both personal and family needs. There are also psychological impacts on students. Tan Ying Yin, senior clinical and counseling psychologist at Allkin Singapore, said, "Youth seek acceptance and a sense of belonging through their peer relationships. "Taking on work and family responsibilities may cause them to miss out on key relational milestones, as they have less time for social and recreational activities with their peers. The challenge of balancing both work and school can heighten feelings of stress and anxiety." What help is available? An MOE spokesperson said that there is a "wide range of financial assistance schemes available to support Singaporean citizen students from low to middle-income families." These include government bursaries, such as the Higher Education Community Bursary and Higher Education Bursary, and loans for diploma and undergraduate students, as well as individual aid schemes from institutes of higher learning. Additionally, there are other forms of financial assistance offered by foundations, community groups, self-help groups, as well as private and professional organizations. Family service centers, such as Allkin, also offer financial assistance programs for students in difficult financial situations. Some of these programs, such as the Allkin Family Support Fund, provide financial assistance to students beyond just school-related materials, and help students and their families afford basic needs and significant family expenses.
AsiaOne
07-07-2025
- Business
- AsiaOne
More students in Singapore juggle studying and working to support their families, Singapore News
SINGAPORE — Throughout her three years in polytechnic, 21-year-old Amillie Chan spent every evening after class serving customers and preparing food at Mexican-themed fast food chain Guzman y Gomez. Chan, who graduated in May from Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) with a diploma in food and beverage business, worked up to five hours a day on weekdays and 12 hours a day on weekends — all while studying full-time. While there is no official data on the number of students who have to study and work to support their families, social service agency Allkin Singapore said that it has seen a more than threefold increase in the number of post-secondary students aged 17 and above who have to work while studying, from five in 2024 to 17 in 2025. This is according to data gathered from applications for its Allkin ElevatED! study grant. Natalie Lim, deputy director of the family and community support division at Allkin Singapore, said that this increase 'suggests a growing trend of students having to assume financial responsibilities while pursuing their education'. Two other social service organisations The Straits Times reached out to did not have this data. The Ministry of Education (MOE) said that in academic year 2023, over 70 per cent of Singaporeans studying at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and around 50 per cent of Singaporeans studying in polytechnics received the Higher Education Community Bursary and the Higher Education Bursary. The figures have remained stable over the past five years, MOE added. These are government bursaries for post-secondary students from lower- to middle-income group households that help them to offset tuition fees. Families eligible for the Higher Education Community Bursary take home $4,400 or less monthly, while families eligible for the Higher Education bursary take home $10,000 or less monthly. Sharing their families' burden For some students, working part-time is a choice they make to help supplement their family's income. Second-year Temasek Polytechnic (TP) business student Lucas Lim works part-time as a retail assistant at Fairprice to alleviate the financial burden on his 63-year-old bus captain father, who is the sole breadwinner of the family, which includes his 56-year-old homemaker mother and two older brothers, aged 25 and 29. The 18-year-old said of his father, who is looking to retirement soon: "I've seen him working tirelessly for his entire life. I want to be able to carry some of the burden for him." When Singapore Polytechnic (SP) civil engineering student Yap Jie Er started working at Takagi Ramen as a kitchen crew member in October 2021, she did it for her own extra pocket money. Two months later, it became a necessity for her to own her own keep after her father died from cancer. "I stopped taking an allowance from my mum. Since I was earning my own money, I wanted my mum to be able to give more allowance to my three younger siblings," said Yap, 20, whose younger siblings are aged 18, 11 and seven years old respectively. Jennifer Lau, a third-year immersive media student at Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP), works once a week as a retail assistant at a Lego store. She would like to work more, but she cannot do so because she has to juggle studies as well as visiting her father in a nursing home. Her father was admitted to a nursing home to receive full-time care in November 2023, after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, a neurodegenerative disease that leads to difficulty with walking, balance, coordination and even speech. Lau, 23, earns about $400 a month during the school term. Most of her salary is spent on personal expenses like food and transport costs, as well as food for her father when she visits him two to three times a week. For now, her household bills and her father's nursing home costs are covered by her father's savings and her school fees are covered by financial assistance programmes. "The biggest challenge of working and studying at the same time is that I can't work enough. I want to be able to work more," said Lau, who has no siblings. How they balance school and work Many students who work part-time focus on academics during the weekdays and go to their jobs on weekends. Yap would work up to two shifts at Takagi Ramen every weekend. Each shift lasted from 10am to 10pm. Her job involved preparing drinks, serving customers and assisting the ramen chef. Yap recalls that she had to be on her feet throughout her shifts except during a one-hour break each shift. She said: "Standing all day can be tiring, especially during the evening peak hours when it's extremely busy. We (also) have to stay a 100 per cent focused on our work without making any mistakes." Despite working only twice per week, Yap's part-time job took a toll on her studies. She said: "I would be too tired (from work) to study on weekends, so I would often stay up past midnight to catch up on studies during weekdays." "Sometimes, when I am sleeping, I would even have dreams about working (at my job). It definitely affected my concentration in class and there's been an obvious drop in my grades," said Yap, whose grade point average has dropped from 3.4 to 3.2. She stopped working in July 2024 in order to focus on her studies as she is in her final year. Financial aid programmes, such as the bond-free HSBC Centenary Scholarship she won in 2023 and 2024, have helped with her financial situation. She said: "It's allowed me to work less and have more time to focus on studies and socialising." 'I wish I could spend the money I earn on myself' For Mr Lim, working part-time means having to sacrifice time that could be spent on co-curricular activities or socialising. He said: "I don't have much of a chance to rest, so I'm usually too exhausted from work to participate in sports." "CCAs I'm interested in, like dragonboat and archery, train only on the weekends, so I'm unable to commit due to my work." Not only does he miss socialising with his friends due to his work commitments on the weekends, he also feels like his life is about "constantly running from task to task". "I have no time to unwind," he said. Lau said her sacrifice is in terms of the things she wants but does not need. "I wish that I could spend some of the money I earn on things I want to buy. Sometimes I'll see things like games or (video game) consoles and tell myself that I'm going to buy it next month, but that next month never comes around," she said. When she first began working, she often found herself comparing her situation with those of her classmates. "Why do I have to work while they don't? Why can they have things that I can't?" she would think. "But as I've gotten older, I've gotten more used to it and I've realised that everyone has different journeys any way." Lau said that despite the challenges, she has benefited from her time working and studying at the same time. She said: "It's helped me improve my confidence and built important skills I'll need for working in the real world, like public speaking." Senior clinical and counselling psychologist at Allkin Singapore Tan Ying Yin said that working at a young age can benefit students: "It provides early opportunities to develop essential life skills. Through work, youth can learn valuable skills such as time management and financial responsibility." Mr Lim agrees. "Working has given me a new perspective. It's developed my time management skills, and it's taught me to be disciplined and resolved," he said. "Even though I may be exhausted now, I think it'll benefit me in the long run. I want to take these skills to give my dad peace of mind when he retires, and contribute to a better future for my family." What are the impacts of studying and working to support the household simultaneously? Allkin Singapore's Ms Lim said students who have to study and work to support their households face "significant challenges", including difficulty focusing on academics due to the demands of multiple roles and persistent worries about having enough financial resources to meet both personal and family needs. There are also psychological impacts on students. Tan Ying Yin, senior clinical and counselling psychologist at Allkin Singapore, said: "Youth seek acceptance and a sense of belonging through their peer relationships. "Taking on work and family responsibilities may cause them to miss out on key relational milestones, as they have less time for social and recreational activities with their peers. The challenge of balancing both work and school can heighten feelings of stress and anxiety." What help is available for students who work and study at the same time? An MOE spokesperson said that there is a "wide range of financial assistance schemes available to support Singaporean citizen students from low to middle-income families". These include government bursaries, such as the Higher Education Community Bursary and Higher Education Bursary, and loans for diploma and undergraduate students, as well as individual aid schemes from institutes of higher learning. Additionally, there are other forms of financial assistance offered by foundations, community groups, self-help groups, as well as private and professional organisations. Family service centres, such as Allkin, also offer financial assistance programmes for students in difficult financial situations. Some of these programmes, such as the Allkin Family Support Fund, provide financial assistance to students beyond just school-related materials, and help students and their families afford basic needs and significant family expenses. However, despite the availability of financial assistance, some students still feel the need to work to support their families. Ms Lim said that in these instances, students may continue to work because: They need to contribute to household income, especially when family members are unable to work due to their medical condition(s). Eligibility criteria of current financial assistance options that may exclude certain students from receiving aid. The rising cost of living, which outpaces the financial assistance received. Cultural values that may discourage young people from relying on their parents who are facing financial challenges. Limitations of financial aid — while some forms of aid cover school fees, they may not fully address other essential expenses such as educational resources (for example, books, laptops) or daily living costs (for example, transport, meals). As a result, students may still need to work to meet these needs. [[nid:719617]] This article was first published in The Straits Times . Permission required for reproduction.
Straits Times
06-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
More students in Singapore juggle studying and working to support their families
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Ms Amillie Chan worked up to five hours a day on weekdays and 12 hours a day on weekends – all while studying full-time. SINGAPORE – Throughout her three years in polytechnic, 21-year-old Amillie Chan spent every evening after class serving customers and preparing food at Mexican-themed fast food chain Guzman y Gomez. Miss Chan, who graduated in May from Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) with a diploma in food and beverage business, worked up to five hours a day on weekdays and 12 hours a day on weekends – all while studying full-time. While there is no official data on the number of students who have to study and work to support their families, social service agency Allkin Singapore said that it has seen a more than threefold increase in the number of post-secondary students aged 17 and above who have to work while studying, from five in 2024 to 17 in 2025. This is according to data gathered from applications for its Allkin ElevatED! study grant. Ms Natalie Lim, deputy director of the family and community support division at Allkin Singapore, said that this increase 'suggests a growing trend of students having to assume financial responsibilities while pursuing their education'. Two other social service organisations The Straits Times reached out to did not have this data. The Ministry of Education (MOE) said that in academic year 2023, over 70 per cent of Singaporeans studying at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and around 50 per cent of Singaporeans studying in polytechnics received the Higher Education Community Bursary and the Higher Education Bursary. The figures have remained stable over the past five years, MOE added. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore First BTO project in Sembawang North to be offered in July HDB launch World Tariffs will kick in on Aug 1 barring trade deals: US Treasury Secretary Singapore Woman on SMRT's 190 bus injured after bottle thrown at vehicle leaves hole in window Business Great Eastern says Takeover Code not breached when it shared IFA valuation with OCBC Asia 'Don't be seen in India again': Indian nationals pushed into Bangladesh at gunpoint Asia Thousands evacuated as Typhoon Danas lashes Taiwan Asia Two women fatally stabbed at bar in Japan by man Life Star Awards 2025: Christopher Lee wins big, including Special Achievement Award and Best Actor These are government bursaries for post-secondary students from lower- to middle-income group households that help them to offset tuition fees. Families eligible for the Higher Education Community Bursary take home $4,400 or less monthly, while families eligible for the Higher Education bursary take home $10,000 or less monthly. Sharing their families' burden For some students, working part-time is a choice they make to help supplement their family's income. Second-year Temasek Polytechnic (TP) business student Lucas Lim works part-time as a retail assistant at Fairprice to alleviate the financial burden on his 63-year-old bus captain father, who is the sole breadwinner of the family, which includes his 56-year-old homemaker mother and two older brothers, aged 25 and 29. The 18-year-old said of his father, who is looking to retirement soon: 'I've seen him working tirelessly for his entire life. I want to be able to carry some of the burden for him.' Temasek Polytechnic student Lucas Lim has worked part-time at Fairprice from 8am to 2pm every weekend for one and a half years to help relieve the financial burden on his sole-breadwinner father. ST PHOTO: TARYN NG When Singapore Polytechnic (SP) civil engineering student Yap Jie Er started working at Takagi Ramen as a kitchen crew member in October 2021, she did it for her own extra pocket money. Two months later , it became a necessity for her to own her own keep after her father died from cancer. 'I stopped taking an allowance from my mum. Since I was earning my own money, I wanted my mum to be able to give more allowance to my three younger siblings,' said Miss Yap, 20, whose younger siblings are aged 18, 11 and seven years old respectively. Miss Jennifer Lau, a third-year immersive media student at Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP), works once a week as a retail assistant at a Lego store. She would like to work more, but she cannot do so because she has to juggle studies as well as visiting her father in a nursing home . Ngee Ann Polytechnic student Jennifer Lau works once a week as a retail assistant at a Lego store. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO Her father was admitted to a nursing home to receive full-time care in November 2023, after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, a neurodegenerative disease that leads to difficulty with walking, balance, coordination and even speech. Miss Lau, 23, earns about $400 a month during the school term. Most of her salary is spent on personal expenses like food and transport costs, as well as food for her father when she visits him two to three times a week. For now, her household bills and her father's nursing home costs are covered by her father's savings and her school fees are covered by financial assistance programmes. 'The biggest challenge of working and studying at the same time is that I can't work enough. I want to be able to work more,' said Miss Lau, who has no siblings. How they balance school and work Many students who work part-time focus on academics during the weekdays and go to their jobs on weekends. Miss Yap would work up to two shifts at Takagi Ramen every weekend. Each shift lasted from 10am to 10pm. Her job involved preparing drinks, serving customers and assisting the ramen chef. Mi Yap recalls that she had to be on her feet throughout her shifts except during a one-hour break each shift. She said: 'Standing all day can be tiring, especially during the evening peak hours when it's extremely busy. We (also) have to stay a 100 per cent focused on our work without making any mistakes.' Despite working only twice per week, Miss Yap's part-time job took a toll on her studies. She said: 'I would be too tired (from work) to study on weekends, so I would often stay up past midnight to catch up on studies during weekdays.' 'Sometimes, when I am sleeping, I would even have dreams about working (at my job). It definitely affected my concentration in class and there's been an obvious drop in my grades,' said Miss Yap, whose grade point average has dropped from 3.4 to 3.2. She stopped working in July 2024 in order to focus on her studies as she is in her final year. Financial aid programmes, such as the bond-free HSBC Centenary Scholarship she won in 2023 and 2024, have helped with her financial situation. She said: 'It's allowed me to work less and have more time to focus on studies and socialising.' 'I wish I could spend the money I earn on myself' For Mr Lim, working part-time means having to sacrifice time that could be spent on co-curricular activities or socialising. He said: 'I don't have much of a chance to rest, so I'm usually too exhausted from work to participate in sports.' 'CCAs I'm interested in, like dragonboat and archery, train only on the weekends, so I'm unable to commit due to my work.' For Mr Lim, working part-time means having to sacrifice time that could be spent on co-curricular activities or socialising. ST PHOTO: TARYN NG Not only does he miss socialising with his friends due to his work commitments on the weekends, he also feels like his life is about 'constantly running from task to task'. 'I have no time to unwind,' he said. Miss Lau said her sacrifice is in terms of the things she wants but does not need. 'I wish that I could spend some of the money I earn on things I want to buy. Sometimes I'll see things like games or (video game) consoles and tell myself that I'm going to buy it next month, but that next month never comes around,' she said. When she first began working, she often found herself comparing her situation with those of her classmates. 'Why do I have to work while they don't? Why can they have things that I can't?' she would think. 'But as I've gotten older, I've gotten more used to it and I've realised that everyone has different journeys any way.' Miss Lau said that despite the challenges, she has benefited from her time working and studying at the same time. She said: 'It's helped me improve my confidence and built important skills I'll need for working in the real world, like public speaking.' Senior clinical and counselling psychologist at Allkin Singapore Tan Ying Yin said that working at a young age can benefit students: 'It provides early opportunities to develop essential life skills. Through work, youth can learn valuable skills such as time management and financial responsibility.' Mr Lim agrees. 'Working has given me a new perspective. It's developed my time management skills, and it's taught me to be disciplined and resolved,' he said. 'Even though I may be exhausted now, I think it'll benefit me in the long run. I want to take these skills to give my dad peace of mind when he retires, and contribute to a better future for my family.' What are the impacts of studying and working to support the household simultaneously? Allkin Singapore's Ms Lim said students who have to study and work to support their households face 'significant challenges', including difficulty focusing on academics due to the demands of multiple roles and persistent worries about having enough financial resources to meet both personal and family needs. There are also psychological impacts on students. Ms Tan Ying Yin, senior clinical and counselling psychologist at Allkin Singapore, said: 'Youth seek acceptance and a sense of belonging through their peer relationships. 'Taking on work and family responsibilities may cause them to miss out on key relational milestones, as they have less time for social and recreational activities with their peers. The challenge of balancing both work and school can heighten feelings of stress and anxiety.' What help is available for students who work and study at the same time? An MOE spokesperson said that there is a 'wide range of financial assistance schemes available to support Singaporean citizen students from low to middle-income families'. These include government bursaries, such as the Higher Education Community Bursary and Higher Education Bursary, and loans for diploma and undergraduate students, as well as individual aid schemes from institutes of higher learning. Additionally, there are other forms of financial assistance offered by foundations, community groups, self-help groups, as well as private and professional organisations. Family service centres, such as Allkin, also offer financial assistance programmes for students in difficult financial situations. Some of these programmes, such as the Allkin Family Support Fund, provide financial assistance to students beyond just school-related materials, and help students and their families afford basic needs and significant family expenses. However, despite the availability of financial assistance, some students still feel the need to work to support their families. Ms Lim said that in these instances, students may continue to work because:
Scottish Sun
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Glasgow's new rooftop restaurant will serve Mexican dishes with Scottish twist and offer panoramic views
GRUB'S UP Glasgow's new rooftop restaurant will serve Mexican dishes with Scottish twist and offer panoramic views A NEW rooftop restaurant serving Mexican dishes with a Scottish twist is opening in Glasgow. SiSi will open in just weeks with a small plates menu including scallop ceviche verde, steak tartare tostada and green bloody marias. Advertisement 3 SiSi's Sunset Lounge offers views west over the city 3 The bar will offer a range of beers, wine and Mexican-themed pun 3 Diners in the Sunrise Lounge will be able to look out to the east It will offer panoramic views across the city and out to Cathkin Braes. Opening manager Darren Blackburn said: 'SíSí has been a long time in the making, and we're incredibly proud to see the passion we've poured into it come to life. "Glasgow's internationally renowned food and drink scene is already bursting with personality, and with SíSí, we're adding something new to the mix to help elevate it even further. 'We've designed SíSí to feel effortless and inclusive, whether you're popping in for a leisurely lunch, cocktails at sunset or making a night of it. Advertisement "It's a place to relax, celebrate, and connect with people while enjoying incredible food and drinks in good company. "If you're looking for a party with a view, this is it.' The restaurant on the eighth floor of the Social Hub building in Candleriggs Square in Merchant City has room for 100 diners indoors and 60 more on an outdoor terrace. Bosses have vowed their food will be centred around locally-sourced ingredients from sustainable suppliers. Advertisement Tyson Fury drinks with locals in Scots bar and visits historic castle during road trip SiSi will open at noon and shut at 1am, with live music, DJ sessions and cocktails like mezcal palomas and spicy margaritas served until late. A "regular calendar of events" is planned. SiSi is due to open on August 1.
The Irish Sun
09-06-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Best cashback bonuses in Ireland: Top cashback casinos for June 2025
CASINO cashback bonuses first emerged in the early 2000s, offering a new way for players to soften the impact of losses. Today, they are one of the most popular promotions around, and a staple among online casinos in Ireland. This article explores everything you need to know about online casino cashback bonuses: what they are, the most common types you'll find and how to claim them, the pros and cons of cashback rewards, expert tips on maximising them, and a roundup of the best cashback casino bonuses available to Irish players in 2025. 🪙 Best casino cashback bonuses 🔎 A closer look at casino cashback bonuses In the following paragraphs, we'll take a look at cashback bonuses from our 1. Spinsy Cashback bonus: Live cashback 25% up to €200 Another new casino, Spinsy, launched in 2024, offering players thousands of popular slot and table games, and some truly worthwhile promotions besides plenty of by playing live casino games each week, and requesting cashback on live chat (it's not automatically credited). The exact amount depends on the VIP level, but it needs to be wagered only once (1x) to cash out. Level 3, 4, and 5 VIP players also get access to another promo: 5%, 10%, or 15% cashback with a 1x wagering requirement up to €3,000 on all casino games each week. 2. Bitkingz Cashback bonus: Daily Cashback Hunt cashback up to 20% Since launching in 2020, Bitkingz has made its name on generous cashback promotions and fast crypto transactions. The Daily Cashback Hunt rewards players with progressively higher cashback amounts for betting at least €100 on each consecutive day for a week. It starts with 5% on Day 1, maxing out at 20% on Day 7, and staying there as long as the qualifying deposit requirement is met each following day. The wagering requirements and maximum bonus amounts depend on the player's VIP level, going from 35x and €500 on the Settler level up to 3x and €10,000 on the highest King level. There is also an Instant Cashback promo on slots or live games, with similar awards that scale with the player's VIP level. 3. 50 Crowns Casino Cashback bonus: VIP Weekly Cashback - Get up to 20% Another fairly new casino, 50 Crowns, opened its doors to the public in 2023. In addition to a massive game library of nearly 5,000 titles, it also has cashback offers for both VIP players and live casino lovers. VIPs can negotiate with their VIP Account Manager to get up to 20% in weekly cashback as long as they don't withdraw more than 60% of their deposit amount for the week. The other promotion is available to everyone at the casino, offering 25% of your weekly losses on live casino games between €5 and €200. All cashback promotions have a 10x wagering requirement. 4. 5Gringos Cashback bonus: 10% cashback up to €200 + 1 bonus crab This jolly-looking casino has been around since 2020, leaning strongly into its Mexican theme, with cartoony graphics and lots of Mexican-themed slots. It also offers two excellent cashback bonuses, the first as part of its welcome offer and the other for VIP players. For new players, all casino and live games are eligible for 10% cashback between €5 and €200 with deposits of at least €10. You'll only need to wager the bonus once to cash out, and Skrill and Neteller deposits are not eligible. For regulars, the site offers between 5% and 15% cashback per week up to €1,000/€3,000 (1x wagering), but you'll need to be on at least the third level of five VIP levels available in the loyalty programme. 5. Lukki Casino Cashback bonus: 150% Extra, a 60-day VIP trial & 10% cashback safety net Lukki is a relatively new casino, operating since 2023. It offers a solid selection of slot and casino games, including numerous jackpot slots, and a large variety of excellent promotions, especially for new players. Currently, you can get a head start to the VIP experience by depositing 500 € or more to get a 150% bonus up to 6,000 €, a 60-day VIP trial, and 10% cashback for your first week. The maximum cashback from this promotion is 1,000 €, but there are no wagering requirements. If you plan to stick around, Lukki offers a seven-tier Yacht Club loyalty programme, which, among other bonuses, also offers increasing cashback rewards. 6. Slotbox Casino Cashback bonus: Weekly cashback up to €2,000 every Friday Since opening its doors to the public in 2021, Slotbox has been making waves in the gambling community with its generous welcome bonuses and excellent slot game selection. The cashback offer is tied to the casino's SlotClub Loyalty Program. It's a weekly cashback scheme, with players on the third VIP level (Platinum) getting 5% cashback up to €500 on net losses from Friday 00:00 to Thursday 23:59, increasing up to 10% or even higher, with a cap of €2,000 on the top-tier Black Diamond VIP level. The minimum cashback amount is €5, and it has to be wagered 1x within three days or it expires. 7. Rolling Slots Cashback bonus: Get 10% up to €200 every Monday! We don't imagine Mick and Keith are much into gambling, but one look at the Rolling Slots casino and you'll know where it got its inspiration from. Aside from the refreshingly rock music-inspired design, this casino has, since 2021, been a great place to visit if you like cashback deals. Every Monday, all players can claim 10% up to €200 of their losses for the past week, with no VIP level requirements to worry about. That said, you'll need to have at least €50 in losses as the minimum cashback is €5, and before you cash out, you'll need to meet a rather steep 30x wagering requirement. 8. CrocoSlots Cashback bonus: Up to 20% daily cashback If you're a fan of casinos with fun cartoonish designs, CrocoSlots will be right up your alley. Since 2022, this casino has made its name on more than design, though, with the current cashback bonus being one of the best in the industry. Starting with day 1 and 5%, your cashback will depend on your ability to keep up with the €100 wagering requirement each successive day - if you get up to seven days, it will get to as much as 20%! That said, the total amount is limited by your VIP level at the casino, starting at just €500 for new players, and €5,000 at the Diamond VIP level. Similarly, the wagering requirements will go down from a hefty 35x for beginners to just 3x for Diamond-level players. 9. Need for Spin Cashback bonus: Cashback bonus 15% up to €200 Ever thought fast cars and casinos go together nicely? The owners of Need for Spin certainly did in 2022. But, whether you're a sports racing car fan or not, you'll enjoy the numerous worthwhile promotions at this casino, and particularly its excellent cashback offer. All registered players can each Monday get 15% of deposit losses incurred between Monday 00:00 UTC and Sunday 23:59 UTC during the past week. The minimum cashback amount is €7.5, while the maximum you can get each week is €200, and you'll have five days from activation to play through the funds 30x before you can cash out. 10. Playoro Cashback bonus: Weekly cashback up to 20% Playoro opened its doors in 2023 and quickly made a name for itself on the Irish market with generous bonuses and promotions. One of our favourite ones is a weekly cashback credited every Monday, where your losses will be reimbursed based on your current VIP level. The minimum cashback amount is €10, and cashback starts at 5% on the Bronze VIP level, going all the way up to 20% for Diamond level players. Best of all? You'll only need to wager the bonus through once before you can cash out, and there is no limit on the maximum bet contribution to wagering for this promotion. 🙋 What are cashback bonuses in casino gaming? Cashback bonuses are a type of casino promotion that gives players a percentage of their net losses back over a specific period. Unlike free spins or cashable prizes that reward players for winning or making deposits, cashback offers act as a safety net, softening the blow of losses. Typically calculated weekly (sometimes daily or monthly), these bonuses help retain players by giving them a second chance, essentially turning a losing streak from a total loss to a smaller setback. 🤔 How do casino cashback bonuses work? Casino cashback bonuses function as a form of loyalty reward, usually calculated at the end of every week. If you lose money while playing that week, the casino gives you back a percentage, often between 5% and 20%, as a bonus. This refund is either credited automatically or claimed manually, depending on the site's terms, and the amount will often depend on the specific promotion or tier of loyalty/VIP programme you are currently in on the site. How cashback bonuses may differ Cashback bonuses can vary widely between casinos. While sometimes tailored for new players as a welcoming and ongoing perk, most target and reward loyal, returning customers. The validity period may range from 24 hours to a full week, and they usually require a minimum deposit or qualifying loss amount to activate. Terms can include wagering requirements, caps on the cashback amount, whether it's paid out as bonus funds or real cash, and even specific game restrictions. Always check the fine print, as even similar-looking bonuses at first glance may work very differently in practice. Types of cashback bonuses Cashback bonuses are a popular type of casino promotion designed to reduce the sting of losses and reward player loyalty. While the specific mechanics and conditions may vary, several common types show up on almost all sites. Here's a quick overview of each one of them: Percent-based cashback – This is the standard and most common type of cashback. You receive a fixed percentage (typically 10%) of your losses back over a certain period, like a week. As an example, if during the given period you've lost €200, with a 10% cashback, you'll be getting €20 back. Tiered cashback – Based on loyalty or VIP levels, the higher your rank, the greater your cashback will be. New players might get as little as 5%, but higher-level VIPs will enjoy as much as 20% or more. Weekly or monthly cashback bonus – Issued at the beginning of each week or month, this type of offer reflects your activity over the past week or month. It's designed to reward consistency and take the sting out of particularly unlucky periods. Game-specific cashback – Only applies to selected games, such as certain slots or table games. Playing these titles can earn you partial refunds on your losses, and it is a promo designed to encourage players to play specific games on the site. No-wager cashback – A rare but very appealing type of cashback, this one has no wagering requirements, meaning you can withdraw it immediately or use it as real money. That said, it's typically more restrictive in terms of how much you can get overall. Special event or timed cashback – Unlike loyalty rewards, these are typically short-lived, and used to either promote or celebrate special events, such as Christmas holidays or the opening of a new game section on the site. While you'll have a limited time to make use of them, they usually tend to be more generous or unique than other types of cashback rewards. READ MORE SUN STORIES 👉 How to claim a casino cashback bonus offer While exact steps may differ across casino sites, claiming cashback bonuses typically follows this process in the online casino world: Sign up for a casino account on your chosen site to access the available casino bonuses. Opt in to the cashback offer or enter a bonus code if required for the specific promotion. If necessary, make a qualifying deposit using accepted payment methods like Visa, Mastercard, Skrill, or Neteller to meet the deposit bonus criteria. Play eligible casino games, such as slots, table games, or video poker, and place qualifying bets within the required timeframe. Accumulate any net losses during the cashback period, which may range from daily to monthly, depending on the casino promotion. Receive your cashback bonus automatically as bonus funds, or request it manually through customer support if the promotion requires it. Use the bonus cash to keep playing, or withdraw your cashback according to the specific wagering requirements and T&Cs set by the casino. Tips for getting the most out of your cashback bonus Look for high cashback percentages – Choose casinos offering 10% or more to maximise your return on losses. Read the T&Cs thoroughly – Make sure to understand the wagering requirements, restrictions, and expiry dates to avoid missing out on cashback offers. Play only eligible games – Focus on casino games like slots or table games that qualify under the cashback terms. Join VIP and loyalty programs – Higher-tier players and veterans on casino sites often receive better cashback bonuses, such as higher percentages or the ability to withdraw their cashback without further wagering requirements. Track your gameplay and losses – Stay aware of how much you've wagered to optimise your cashback potential, but don't let cashback rewards spur you to start destructive gambling habits such as chasing losses. ⚖️ Advantages and disadvantages of cashback bonuses Pros Cons A safety net for losses Usually only applies to net losses Often low or no wagering requirements Can be time or game-limited Rewards ongoing play and site loyalty Cashback amounts can be capped Can be for new players and veterans alike May require manual claiming or opt-in Sometimes stacks with other promotions Often paid in bonus funds, not real cash 👇 FAQs about casino cashback bonuses 1. What should I look for in a good casino cashback offer? When searching for the best cashback casino bonuses, you should focus on a few key details: the cashback percentage (higher is better), the wagering requirements (lower or none is ideal), and whether it applies to your favourite casino games like slots or table games. Also, check if the bonus funds are credited automatically or require a bonus code . Reliable casino sites clearly state these requirements in their T&Cs, which is crucial for avoiding issues later on. 2. Which payment methods are best to use for withdrawing cashback bonuses? For e-wallets like , and reliable debit cards such as Visa and Mastercard . The latter are widely accepted by most online casinos in Ireland, while the former tend to offer faster processing times. Always verify that the casino supports your preferred payment option and whether using certain methods affects your eligibility for a deposit bonus or cashback promotion. Some bonus offers may exclude e-wallets, so it's vital to read the T&Cs before you deposit or try to withdraw your bonus cash. 3. How can I check a cashback casino, or cashback bonus offer, to make sure it's legit? To ensure a cashback bonus offer is legitimate, look for licensing from recognised regulatory bodies and check the casino's reputation through trusted reviews and expert lists . A legitimate online casino cashback bonus will clearly list its wagering requirements, time limits, and game restrictions. Check for transparency in the promotion's terms and a responsive customer support system. You should also verify if there are responsible gambling tools available and whether the casino has a history of fair payouts, as these are both signs of trustworthy and reliable casinos. 4. When and how might my cashback offers appear? Your cashback bonus may appear in your casino account automatically after a specified timeframe, often weekly or monthly, based on your net losses during that period. Some casino promotions require you to opt in, enter a promo code, or contact support. Cashback can be credited as bonus funds, bonus cash, and in the case of the best cashback bonuses, even real money. Always review the requirements in the T&Cs and keep track of your bets, as certain casino games or slot titles might be excluded from the cashback calculations. About the author James Anderson James Anderson is a Betting & Gaming Writer at The Sun. He is an expert in sports betting and online casinos, and joined the company in November 2020 to work closely with leading bookmakers and online gaming companies to curate content in all areas of sports betting. He previously worked as a Digital Sports Reporter and Head of Live Blogs/Events at the Daily Express and Daily Star, covering football, cricket, snooker, F1 and horse racing. Responsible gambling A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chase their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry, or depressed Problem gambling – Gamble Aware – Help with gambling addiction If you have a problem with gambling, or you know someone who does, help is out there. Extern Problem Gambling is the leading provider of information, treatment, advice, and support for anyone affected by gambling harms across Ireland. Most read in Betting
