While Singapore isn’t as much of a gambling destination as Macau, the Lion City has two large casinos, Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa, as well as the cruise ship MV Leisure World, offering a good selection of table games and slot machines.
Marina Bay Sands, Singapore *laser show* © kainkalju
Singapore’s casinos are primarily aimed at foreign players, with a $100 SGD admission fee for both Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa. You’ll need to show your passport to get into the casinos without paying the local entry fee.
Gambling in Singapore is a fun experience, with a huge selection of games and minimum bets aimed at both casual players and high rollers in the city’s casinos. Both of the city’s casinos are open 24 hours a day and have luxurious hotel rooms and suites available for players.
All casinos in Singapore use Singapore dollars (SGD). Gambling is restricted to people aged 21 and above. Both of Singapore’s casinos are upmarket and have a smart dress code — singlets, shorts, beach clothing and any items that obscure facial features are prohibited.
Marina Bay Sands
Marina Bay Sands Casino © sackerman519
Location: 10 Bayfront Avenue. Marina Bay Sands is connected to Bayfront MRT station.
- Famous for its incredible rooftop SkyPark and swimming pool, Marina Bay Sands is Singapore’s newest casino. Aimed at wealthy international travellers, Marina Bay Sands offers a selection of table games and has luxurious, modern rooms and suites in its five-star hotel.
- There are more than 550 gaming tables and 2,300 slot machines in Marina Bay Sands, making it one of Southeast Asia’s largest casinos. Since there is an entrance fee for Singaporeans, you will need to show a foreign passport to enter the Marina Bay Sands casino for free.
- Aside from gaming, key attractions at Marina Bay Sands include the complex’s SkyPark, which has an incredible view of Singapore’s central business district, and Ce La Vi, a luxurious sky bar and restaurant that overlooks the city.
Table Games
- Marina Bay Sands offers a good selection of table games. Favourites like baccarat, blackjack and roulette are easy to find, although minimum bets are quite steep, making the casino ideal for players with a large budget but not so welcoming to casual players.
- Before you make your way to any of the tables, ask for a brochure from the information counter listing the location of each table game and the table’s minimum bet.
- In addition to the table games listed above, Marina Bay Sands offers the following games:
Pontoon
Craps
Sic Bo
Pai Gow
Three Pictures - The minimum table bet for blackjack in Marina Bay Sands is $25, with $50 and $100 minimum bet tables also available. Roulette is available from a $5 minimum bet. There is no Texas hold ‘em poker room at Marina Bay Sands.
- It’s important to check the rules for table games before playing, as rules for blackjack and other games can differ from Western casino rules.
Slot Machines
- Marina Bay Sands has more than 2,300 slot machines, offer a great deal of variety for players of all backgrounds and budgets. The lowest minimum bet is two cents per line, making the casino’s slot machines a fun, affordable choice for people that want to play on a limited budget.
Resorts World Sentosa
Resort World Sentosa © schristia
Location: 8 Sentosa Gateway, Sentosa Island. Resorts World Sentosa is accessible using the Sentosa Express from Singapore’s HarbourFront area.
- Resorts World Sentosa, the gigantic integrated resort on Sentosa island, boasts over 500 table games and 2,400 slot machines. Resorts World Sentosa is also the only casino in Singapore with a Texas hold ’em poker room.
- With six hotels and over 1,800 rooms, a Universal Studios theme park, an oceanarium, seven high-end restaurants, a massive selection of brand name boutiques and live shows like Voyage de la Vie, Resorts World Sentosa has a massive amount to offer guests.
- Since Resorts World Sentosa is so big, it has a hotel option for every price range. Three of the resort’s most popular hotels are listed below:
The Hard Rock Hotel is a modern five-star hotel with an outdoor swimming pool, fitness centre and Fender guitars available for guests to borrow.
Hotel Michael is a luxurious five-star hotel designed by American architect Michael Graves and themed after an art gallery.
Festive Hotel is a more affordable five-star hotel aimed at families with a large outdoor swimming pool and a great location next to the Festive Walk.
Table Games
- Table games available at Resorts World Sentosa include both commission and non-commission baccarat, blackjack, pai gow, pontoon and tai sai. The casino also has electronic roulette, rapid baccarat and sic bo tables.
- Minimum table bets start from $25 for blackjack, with $50 and $100 tables available. Baccarat is available from a $10 minimum bet. There are no-limit Texas hold ‘em poker tables located in the smoking section of the casino with blinds starting from $5/$10.
Slot Machines
- Resorts World Sentosa has more than 2,400 slot machines offer a variety of different games.
MV Leisure World
- Leisure World is a cruise ship anchored in international waters off the coast of the Indonesian island of Batam. Accessible by ferry from Indonesia, Leisure World’s casino is a popular choice for local residents that want to avoid the $100 entrance fees at Singapore’s two casinos.
- Ferries from Tanah Merah offer a round trip to the cruise ship for $43, including a buffet meal and access to the ship’s casino. Low minimum bets of just $2 per game make Leisure World a cheap alternative to the upmarket casinos in Singapore.
- Although the novelty of gambling on a cruise ship can be fun, there’s little of interest on Leisure World for international visitors that can afford the minimum bets at Marina Bay Sands or Resorts World Sentosa.