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Looking into Singapore’s Resorts World Sentosa and Marina Bay Sands

Posted on September 3rd, 2010

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The city state of Singapore has always been regarded as a rather stiff place where a lot of things that you can do elsewhere is prohibited – including its world-famous ban on chewing gum. But these days, it seems that the former British colony and part of the Malaysian federation is ready to join the world party – and how it does, in style! One of the more obvious moves of Singapore to loosen its image is through the opening of two resort casino complexes in the country. While the government would rather demurely refer to them as “integrated resorts,” it cannot be denied that the facilities are quite a hit with both foreign and local tourists. These casinos have given the country’s tourism industry a boost anew and has become of those places considered by high rollers as a prime destination.

The developments though, which only began this year, have taken at least five years in the making, as it was in 2005 when a casino ban was finally lifted by the government. That ban lasted half a century. A number of religious and social groups have opposed the construction of the resorts, but then nobody argued when the construction of these casinos saved the country from joining the rest of the world in recession in 2008. Singapore now is betting on the tourism industry to further its economic development as a whole. Its former reputation as a stopover for long flights instead of being the destination has slowly changed with not just the casinos, but other facilities that are more family-oriented like the Universal Studios in Sentosa Island, which only opened this year as well. That, plus the casinos, plus the only Formula 1 night race in the world, have slowly but surely established Singapore as a tourist destination. This tourism draw is said to contribute as much as half a percentage point to the country’s growth every year.

The Singapore Tourism Board is very optimistic of the contributions that casino resorts are about to bring, with estimated 12 million visitors to the resorts, adding to the total target of 17 million visitors for the year, which is more than three times tourist arrivals in neighboring countries that also offer casinos, like the Philippines. These visitors are expected to contribute a projected $1.5 billion to the country’s economy in 2010. One of the two integrated resorts in the country, and the first, is Resorts World Sentosa with a price tag of $4.4 billion. Opened in Feb. 14, which was coincidentally Valentine’s Day and the Lunar Year of the Tiger’s first day, the resort marks the collaboration between Malaysia-based Genting Group and the Singapore government. As indicated by its name, the casino resort is located in Sentosa Island, and boasts of 6 hotels that contains 1,800 guest rooms and 26 functions rooms. Among other amenities included in the 5.3 million square feet resort are the aforementioned Universal Studios, Marine Life Park which is currently the world’s largest oceanarium, and of course, the casino.

Resorts World Sentosa’s casino is hidden in the complex’s basement and measures 15,000 square meters. There are currently 1,300 slot machines and 530 gambling tables in the casino. Once the casino and the entire resort become fully operational, it is projected to employ more or less 10,000 people. So far, the resort has reported $636.5 million in income in its first three full months of operation. The second player in the industry is Marina Bay Sands, a project of gaming giant Las Vegas Sands Corp. of the USA. The entire resort repots a bigger price tag than Resorts World, at $5.5-billion. Despite the bigger cost, the Marina Bay Sands is smaller in area and opened later in April. The resort took three years to complete after some delays due to construction costs in 2009. This project is Las Vegas sand’s second Asian venture after its huge gamble in Macau, which is also paying handsomely. 15.5 hectares of land houses the resort, where a three tower hotel stands with 2,500 rooms, an expo and convention center, and a shopping complex that spans 8,000 square feet. The resort’s casino is located on a separate building that has 1,500 slot machines and 600 tables for various casino games. The company has declared $216 million in income on the resort’s first 65 days of operation.