Singapore opens first casino - AFP - Monday, February 15
SINGAPORE (AFP) - –
Singapore opened the first of two casino resorts Sunday, part of a
multi-billion US dollar bet to transform itself into a hot tourist
destination and reduce the economy's reliance on
manufacturing.
The casino at Resorts World Sentosa welcomed its first punter --
a middle aged Singaporean woman -- at the auspicious time of 12:18
pm (0418 GMT) on the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year.
When pronounced in the Cantonese dialect, 12:18 sounds like
"prosperity". The first bettor was followed by an initial crowd of
about 200 enthusiastic gamblers and within hours of the opening,
hundreds more were queuing up outside. Ushers gave out free bottled
water and ice cream in the sweltering tropical heat.
The opening -- to be followed within months by a second casino
resort built by Las Vegas Sands in Singapore's business district --
is part of an ambitious plan to transform the city into a key
destination for casino high-rollers, business executives and
families.
"I'll probably play jackpot. I'm willing to wager around a
hundred (dollars) in it," said Tiong Tak Si, 60, a retiree from
Brunei.
Resorts World Sentosa, which is on Sentosa island, a former
British garrison linked to the main island by bridge, is owned by
Malaysian gaming giant Genting Group.
"We have waited a long time for this. Today's opening of the
casino is a milestone for Resorts World Sentosa, for Genting Group
and for Singapore," said group chairman Lim Kok Thay.
The construction of Resorts World Sentosa, together with the Las
Vegas Sands' casino resort, Marina Bay Sands, is costing more than
10 billion US dollars.
They will also offer visitors a range of glitzy hotels,
restaurants and luxury goods shops.
Genting's casino complex includes a Universal Studios movie
theme park, which it opened Sunday for sneak previews ahead of full
operations.
Singapore, host to thousands of multinational corporations, is
already a major travel draw because of its reputation for safety,
cleanliness and efficiency, as well as man-made attractions such as
top-end shopping malls.
However, it is a tiny island which lacks the white-sand beaches
and breath-taking scenery found in neighbouring countries like
Indonesia and Malaysia and the government is continually searching
for new ideas to create a buzz about the city-state.
In 2008 it made sporting history when it hosted the world's
first Formula One night race.
It has built the world's biggest observation wheel, the
Singapore flyer, and an arts venue and has given its prime Orchard
Road shopping belt a makeover.
Now it plans a landscaped area called Gardens by the Bay near
the Marina Barrage built in 2008.
The city-state is aiming to get 17 million visitors a year
generating more than 21 billion US dollars by 2015, up from 9.7
million visitors last year.
Analysts expect the casino resorts to help the city meet those
targets.
"There is clearly a push to add to the range and depth of
attractions here and that is important for a place like this," said
Robert McIntosh, an executive director with CBRE Hotels Asia
Pacific, a consultancy firm.
"They (casino resorts) are a massive boost to overall tourism to
Singapore," he told AFP.
CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets, an independent brokerage firm, said
Singapore's casinos are expected to generate revenues of 2.1
billion US dollars this year, rising to 3.5 billion dollars in
2011.
Singapore in 2005 agreed to go ahead with the two casino resorts
after a rare public debate.
Opponents feared gambling would threaten the city's "family
values" and put it at risk of becoming a centre for
money-laundering.
But the government has put in safeguards, including imposing a
100 Singapore dollar (71 US) entrance fee for Singaporeans and
permanent residents and banning anyone declared bankrupt from the
casinos outright.
Last month it launched a dedicated police unit to investigate
casino-related crimes.
