Singapore is a conservative nation that preaches hard work and strict discipline. For evidence of the latter, in the past Singapore has banned chewing gum and caned foreigners for overstaying their travel visas. But seeing the potential for more tourism and thousands of jobs, Singapore stepped outside its traditionally conservative nature to legalize gambling in the mid-2000s. By 2010, two of the world’s biggest casino resorts—Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa—opened in Singapore and instantly made it a marque gambling destination.
The island city state located between Malaysia and Indonesia doesn’t want its own citizens gambling, imposing a S$100, or US$70, daily fee for any local who enters a casino. But they now welcome millions of foreign tourists to their mega casino resorts every year. If you plan on visiting Singapore casinos, keep reading to find out more info on the two casino resorts, local attractions, and 7 tips for planning your Singapore gambling trip.
Marina Bay Sands
With three giant hotel towers and a rooftop deck called SkyPark connecting them, Marina Bay Sands really stands out in Singapore’s skyline. The international architect firm Aedas designed the complex’s look, and they did an excellent job of creating a memorable sight. Marina Bay Sands was originally set to open in 2009, but its owner, the Las Vegas Sands Corp, faced labour shortages and increasing material costs. Luckily, Las Vegas Sands was able to complete the project the following year without sacrificing their original vision. The inside of the resort was designed by the world famous Moshe Safdie, who says that he used card decks as part of his inspiration. Given the immense size of Marina Bay Sands, it’s difficult to see this vision play out when looking across the resort’s many sections.
While the entire complex is a modern marvel, nothing stands out more than the 340 meter long SkyPark—a boat like structure that offers amazing views of Singapore and the Marina Bay below. As an S$8 billion, approx. $5.7b US, project, it’s little surprise that Marina Bay Sands offers fantastic amenities. The headliner is the SkyPark infinity pool, which, at 146 meters long, is the world’s biggest elevated swimming pool. Resting 191 meters above ground, the pool offers incredible views of Singapore. SkyPark patrons can also visit nightclubs like Ce La Vie, rooftop gardens, and a public observatory deck.
Down on the ground, the Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands offer over 300 stores within nearly 1 million square feet. Some of the stores located here include: Armani, Chanel, Cartier, Dior, Dunhill, Emporio, Gucci, Ralph Lauren, Miu Miu, Salvatore Ferragamo, and Vertu. Much like Las Vegas Sands’ Venetian properties in Macau and Vegas, a canal runs alongside these shops. You can take a romantic gondola ride down the canal while the gondolier sings. The main casino floor is a table player’s dream, with 1,000 tables offering everything from blackjack and baccarat to roulette and sic bo. You’ll also find 1,400 slot machines spread throughout the gaming floor.
Most of the tables and slots are on the ground level, giving you a wide variety of games within a small vicinity. But the Marina Bay Sands casino measures 4 stories, with additional slot machines and tables on floors 2 4. Just keep in mind that much of the upper floors are reserved for VIP gamblers. With over 2,500 rooms, the Marina Bay Sands hotel offers a wide variety of hotel rooms and suites. The smallest option is the Deluxe Room, which spans 39 square meters, or420 sq. ft.. Despite being the most basic room, the Deluxe offers a pleasing design, small lounge area, LCD TV, and good views in many cases.
At the high end is the Chairman Suite, which spans 629 square meters, or 6,670 sq. ft. Sitting on the highest floor, the Chairman Suites offer stunning views of Singapore, a grand piano, two living rooms, two TVs, and four bedrooms. Marina Bay Sands is located at the southern end of Singapore on Sentosa Island, just a couple of miles away from rival Marina Bay Sands. The only downside to Marina Bay’s location is that it’s approximately 10 miles from the Changi Airport, which makes for a long drive through traffic to get here. Marina Bay Sands offers several celebrity chef restaurants, including DB Bistro & Oyster Bar by Daniel Boulud, Long Chim by David Thompson, Osteria Mozza by Mario Batali, Pizzeria by Batali, and Spago by Wolfgang Puck. Spago is especially interesting because you’ll not only enjoy a fine menu prepared by Puck, but also see the SkyPark views too.
Shaped like a lotus and designed by Safdie, the ArtScience Museum offers 21 gallery spaces within 50,000 square feet. Some of the museum’s different galleries include Genghis Khan: The Exhibition, Van Gogh Alive – The Exhibition, Harry Potter: The Exhibition, and the Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, Continuing with the art theme, the resort also contains an Art Path that offers pieces by famous artists. Each piece is meant to include environmental influences such as light, water, and wind. Two more big attractions here include the Sands Theatre and Grand Theatre, which seat 1,680 and 2,155 people respectively. These theaters feature world class performance troupes that put on dazzling shows for spectators.
