The best casinos in Singapore might be few in number but they attract people from far and wide, offering some real glitz and glamour to go along with the full range of casino games that you’d expect. The first Singapore casino only opened in 2006, so this is an industry still in its infancy when compared with Las Vegas or Macau, but as Singapore is one of the world’s banking capitals, and with many high-rollers regularly travelling through, you can be sure that high stakes are being risked every night of the week. As well as bricks-and-mortar casinos, Singapore has a growing number of casino cruises, which will sail out to international waters to avoid any inconvenient regulations that might arise on dry land. We have included the best of both so you can choose what is right for you. It’s worth noting there is a smart-casual dress code at many Singapore casinos. All of them state no shorts or flip-flops.
1 Marina Bay Sands, Marina Bay
Opened in 2010 Singapore Marina Bay Sands is part of the mega $5.5 billion resort project, Marina Bay Sands Hotel. But it’s much more than just a hotel and casino; in fact it has everything to become Southeast Asia’s next top entertainment destination. Place your bet, and hope you’re lucky. Only less than a month after its opening, a few Lotus Evora cars from the casino’s ‘Mystery Car Jackpot’ had found new owners. Not bad at all for those who played on the 5¢, 10¢, 20¢ or multi-denomination machines and won. And more are coming, don’t worry. Lost the lucky streak? Then head up to the Sands Skypark for jaw-dropping city panoramas and a fun-filled night at the many rooftop clubs (check out the uber-chic KU DÉ TA). Even if you’re out of luck, you’ll never run out of entertainment.
Casino Facilities
The lavish 15,000-square-metre casino features almost 500 gaming tables, 1,600 slot machines (known by the locals as ‘jackpot machines’) as well as more than 30 private gaming rooms. In the casino’s own words “Marina Bay Sands offers a vast selection of the newest and most popular electronic gaming machines worldwide. Their collection of machines features more than 250 themes and game titles to choose from.” When entering the main gaming floor guests will immediately notice the amazing chandelier. It’s the world’s largest and is made up of more than 130,000 Swarovski crystals and weighs just a bit over seven tons! But there’s much more to see and do here and the casino also caters to non-smoking gamers.
2 Resorts World Sentosa, Sentosa
Resorts World Sentosa Casino highlights occupying an area of about 15,000sqm in the basement of the Crockfords Tower Hotel, World Resort Casino is one of the most sophisticated casino facilities in the world. Due to its collaboration with some of the world’s leading gaming equipment providers such as International Game Technology (IGT) group, the casino enables you to play some of the most advanced games like Star Wars, Back to the Future, Indiana Jones and Alien vs Predator. Its deal with IGT further allows players to gain access to such sophisticated gaming system as the RFID (Radio Frequency Identification Device) Chip Inventory System and EZ Pay.
In addition, many slot machines as well as jackpot games can also be played at the casino. Nevertheless, World Resort Casino’s attraction is not just confined to its extravagant gaming zone that consists of more than 500 gaming tables. It’s also noteworthy for its striking interiors complemented by non-stop entertainment and sumptuous dining choices including Casino Royal Bar – a great place for casino players to relish sumptuous Japanese specialties, Crockfords Club, designed for VIP casino players, Feng Shui Inn where you can sample fine Cantonese cuisine, Full House whose specialty is a buffet featuring the culinary delights of Thailand, China and Vietnam, Happy 9, one of the best places in Sentosa to savour Chinese cuisine, Prosperity Court – a place to taste scrumptious Southeast Asian specialties and Wing Choi offering mouth watering BBQ specialties.
Good to know about Resorts World Sentosa Casino According to the law, Singaporeans and permanent residents require a Casino Entry Levy in order to gain admission to the casino. This includes a day levy and annual levy, of which the former can be obtained by paying S$100 and the latter by S$2,000. All levies collected are utilized for charity as well as public purposes.
Even though the admission to casino is free for foreigners, it’s mandatory for them to produce identification documents: a foreign passport with an immigration stamp; a long-term visit pass with a foreign passport, a long-term visit pass with photographic identification, a student pass with photographic identification, a work pass with identification, or an identity card issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Diplomats in Foreign Embassies and Professional Staff in International Organisations. Further, the entry to casino is restricted to patrons aged 21 or above. The casino’s dress etiquette is smart/casual, and visitors are not allowed to enter dressed in shorts, flip-flops and singlet’s.
3 Singapore Casino Cruises, Aegean Paradise Cruise
This Singapore casino cruise gives you a full day and night of gambling fun, along with as many visits to the Chinese buffet restaurant as you want and the relaxing ocean breeze, far removed from the busy city streets. The casino has 40 live tables, including poker and black jack, and hundreds of slot machines to play.
Minimum bets are much lower than at the high profile casinos back on land, usually no more than S$2. There’s plenty more to do too, thanks to Prices for an evening trip on board start from S$25, while a one-night stay in a private cabin starts from S$40 on a weekday or S$80 on a weekend. If you decide to take to the high seas to chance your luck, you will be picked up from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal for a 45-minute trip to Nongsapura Ferry Terminal, where you will board the Aegean Paradise cruise liner.
