Singapore's first casino

Singapore's first casino at Resorts World Sentosa opens its doors

Singapore opened the first of two casino resorts Sunday, part of a multi-billion 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.

The opening - to be followed within months by a second casino resort built by Las Vegas Sands in Singapore's business district - is part of an ambitious plan to transform the city into a key destination for casino high-rollers, business executives and families.

"I'll probably play jackpot. I'm willing to wager around a hundred (dollars) in it," said Tiong Tak Si, 60, a retiree from Brunei.

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.

"We have waited a long time for this. Today's opening of the casino is a milestone for Resorts World Sentosa, for Genting Group and for Singapore," said group chairman Lim Kok Thay.

-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-