Singapore Opens First Casino

Finally Singapore First Integrated Resort Casino is open.

Extract from channelnewasia.

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.

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.

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.

The government has also 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.