25/08/2010, Casino

Singapore opened the world's second most expensive casino, The Marina Bay Sands Casino, that is expected to generate over one billion US dollars a year.

The casino is part of a $5.5 billion complex built by US gaming giant Las Vegas Sands, that includes 2560 hotel rooms, a shopping mall, several restaurants, a 120,000m² convention-exhibition centre, a sky park, an Art & Science museum, two Sands Theatres and two floating pavilions. The Marina Bay Sands Casino was originally set to open at the end of 2009, but the repeated delays were caused by financial problems due to the global economic downturn.

Officials think the casinos will help Singapore to increase the rate of visitors to over 17 million a year, overtaking the Macau region, even by “stealing” a few high-rollers from China, and to generate over 21 billion US dollars by 2015. Although the luxurious official opening ceremony took place two months ago, the Marina Bay Sands Casino already attracted 25,000 visitors daily.

The Casino counts 15,000 square meters, comprising less than 3 percent of the integrated resort's gross floor area. The four level casino offers 1600 slot machines and 500 table games, including Baccarat, Roulette, Sic-Bo, Singapore Stud Poker, Non Commission Baccarat and Money Wheel. Their impressive collection of slot machines features more than 250 themes and game titles. Also, the Marina Bay Sands Casino offers exclusive salons on the upper floors of the casino.

The Marina Bay Sands Casino is the world's second most expensive casino, after MGM Mirage's CiyCenter in Las Vegas. “Marina Bay Sands is really the future of tourism development. For countries serious about boosting tourism and creating new jobs, the integrated resort model is unmatched and Marina Bay Sands will now be a reference point by which all new tourism projects are judged,” Las Vegas Sands Corp chairman Sheldon G. Adelson told a press conference.