Singapore may be a small country, but its casino potential is immense. And even though only two casinos are operating in the country, namely the Genting Singapore and the Las Vegas Sands, each part of the special resort, the Marina Bay Sands and the Resorts World Sentosa, has managed to generate over $5.3 billion in revenue in 2023. Tourism makes up for 5% of the nation's GDP, with high expectations that it will rise and many tourists come to see iconic buildings, landscapes, and offers that only Singapore can provide, but the rules are not the same for locals and tourists, so it is worth exploring what makes Singapore offer special.
1. Casino entry fees
If you're coming as a tourist to Singapore, you can breathe a sigh of relief because all you need to enter any casino without paying a fee is your passport. Players with foreign passports are exempt from paying a fee, which was $100 a long time ago and was changed to $150 in 2019. The alternative to going into any of the two land casinos is to play at a far greater number of casinos and enjoy gambling in Singapore online, with Khadija Bilal saying online casinos offer the best experience, bonuses, fast payouts and more.
Visiting a land-based casino has its perks, but if you are a local, you need to pay a $150 fee, and you can only stay for six hours per day. Plan B included buying an annual fee, which costs $3000, and it still allows for playing inside a casino for 6 hours per day. Tourists can, however, play as much as they want inside any of the two casinos.
2. Transportation
One of the main issues any tourist can face in a foreign country is transportation, as everything is alien to you, and it's hard to get around in an unknown country. Renting a car and driving to a casino could be one option, but it's recommended to have an active GPS so that you don't get lost. Without going through the trouble of renting a car and having one more additional expense and thing to worry about, the next best thing would be to play at crypto gambling sites from the comfort of your apartment or while on the beach.
But, since casinos in Singapore have plenty to offer, many tourists still love to visit them and enjoy the spectacle. Hailing a taxi is a gamble and not the one many wish to take, as illegal taxis tend to trick and scam tourists by charging them more. The best practice for tourist transportation in Singapore has proven to be minibus reservation. Tourists tend to group up, and reserving and splitting the fee for a bus is the coziest and safest way to travel around, and you'll also have a way to get back to your apartment without a fuss.
3. Special clubs
Singapore is a very religious country where Islamic laws are present, so gambling and alcohol are strictly prohibited for locals, while the rules slightly vary for tourists. By creating special resort centers and imposing fees, it was possible to set up the current two casinos in Singapore. Inside them, tourists will have to get accustomed to non-alcoholic beverages, but there are some additional differences.
Clubs like the Orchid Club, a special golfing country club, are exclusive to local citizens. So is the Ladies Club, specially made for female casino players, consisting of 12 tables with exclusively male staff. The concept of exclusivity has been successful for Singapore so far, and the country has been able to adapt. While exploring the casinos, tourists may find many restaurants inside casinos, and they can enjoy their offers without restrictions. But if you are a local who wishes to use these cafes inside resorts, it's still possible to enter but via shopping malls.
Aside from all of these situations where tourists and locals may not have the same experience while gambling, smoking is an important aspect that many tourists have to get accustomed to. In Singaporean casinos, smoking is allowed pretty much anywhere, which may require some adjustments from tourists but is a standard occurrence for locals.
4. Language barrier
English is known worldwide, but that does not mean everyone can speak it. Singapore has over 5.5 million people, and several languages are circulating, including English, Mandarin, Malay, and Hokkien, a Chinese dialect. Your gambling experience as a tourist may slightly differ from locals, as you'll probably try to communicate in English, and most casino staff are fluent in it, as it is a job requirement. Overcoming language barriers is important if you wish to have a great time and maximize your gambling experience. Be ready and prepared to jump over that hurdle by any means possible.