The world’s second most expensive casino was opened in Singapore on April 15, 2010. Singapore’s $5.94 billion dollar casino, Marina Bay Sands is the most expensive casino after MGM Mirage’s CityCenter in Las Vegas. In January, the same year Singapore’s first casino, Resorts World Sentosa was opened.
Singapore government is known for its strict moral code. But the economic condition of the country made it choose the path of the so-called immoral activities to generate revenue in 2005. Singapore legalized dancing on bar tops long back and tried Formula One night racing and thereafter the move was to allow casinos to operate. The opening of casinos in Singapore is a step to make it a hot tourist destination and to become less dependent on manufacturing industries. The country focused in earning more through alternate sources instead of just tourism and manufacturing. The environment was challenging, but yet the government became determined and rigid to make the country less dependent on traditional source of incomes.
Resorts World Sentosa – Singapore Hotel and Casino Resort
The 49 hectare Resorts World Sentosa located on Singapore’s holiday island of Sentosa is a $4.4 billion investment as reported by Sydney Morning Herald. Resort World Sentosa’s official website claims that it has got the world’s newest gaming halls and they know the gaming preferences of Asians. Resorts World Sentosa is owned by the Malaysian gaming giant – Genting Group.
Other than casino, the resort also contains hotels, restaurants and luxury good shops. The Universal Studios movie theme park which features movie theme roller coasters and other attractions is a major attraction of Resorts World Sentosa, which is designed to take care of family with special attractions for kids.
The resort is one of the best places for tourists to take a break and relax. It is ideally located and perfect for overseas visitors and far better than any online sports betting site or platform.
Marina Bay Sands – Singapore’s Luxury Hotel Resort and Casino
The $5.5 billion, Marina Bay Sands Resort is the second most expensive casino in the world. The resort contains casino, hotels, restaurants, shopping mall and an events plaza. The resort is also built by Malaysia’s Genting Group. Marina Bay Sands is designed to cater corporate and convention crowd.
Social and Financial Aspect of Casinos in Singapore
The two casino resorts are expected to boost tourism by attracting 10 million visitors and provide 45,000 jobs in the country. The rise of 13% in the GDP of the first quarter in 2010 attributed to the newly opened casinos. According to an analysis by Ruchika Tulshyan in GlobalPost website, the government of Singapore has taken steps to ensure responsible gaming and to keep away Singaporeans from casinos from economic and social point of view. The entry fees for Singaporeans is kept hundred Singaporean dollars, but the Bank of America Merrill Lynch report found that 50 to 60% of the visitors to the casinos are Singaporeans.
Festival Time in Singapore
Now let us have a brief look at some of the important festivals celebrated in the island country.
From September to February is Festival time in Singapore. Chinese lanterns, tiny fairy lights and multi-coloured displays light up the island as the various ethnic groups – Chinese, Malay and Indian – celebrate their different traditions. It’s a great idea to join one of the free walking tours through Chinatown, Kampong Glam and Little India, that coincide with the festivals.
Christmas Light-Up Tours – The Main Events
The Christmas Light Up Tours on the free open top bus, run right through to the New Year, and there is no better way of getting a fantastic view of Singapore’s “Fairy Tale Christmas” light-up, which this year tells the magical story of a love between a Toy Soldier and a Ballerina, than on the tour bus.
Six Christmas Light-Up Tours are planned to take place nightly from 7.30pm to 10.00 pm. A free boarding pass will be given on presentation of a valid passport at the Singapore Visitors Centres at Changi Airport, Orchard Road and other selected distribution points.
Hari Raya Aidilfitri, September
Two spectacular light-up ceremonies for Hari Raya Aidilfitri takes place in September at Geylang Serai and Kampong Glam. In Kampong Glam, the Malay Heritage Centre is the focal point of the festival, with weekend performances, bazaars and cultural demonstrations.
Chinatown and Singapore River Mid-Autumn Festival
This is a Chinese Festival, a celebration where families and friends gather together to enjoy mooncakes and tea while viewing the moon at its fullest and brightest. Lanterns, street lights and festive bazaars grace Chinatown and the Singapore River for the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Deepavali – October or November
Deepavali is an Indian festival and Hindus celebrate it. During this period, the Little India in Singaore comes alive with street carnivals and lights to usher in Deepavali, or the Festival of Lights. In another part of the Deepavali celebrations, devotees walk across a bed of burning coals in Singapore’s oldest Hindu Temple at the Theemidhi Festival in October or November.
Chinese New Year, 7 – 21 February (Year of the Rat)
As in all Chinese areas, the Chinese New Year is the biggest festival celebrated, and Singapore does it with bells on. Symbolised by rich red decorations and age-old traditions such as the reunion dinner, fifteen days of celebration brings together in celebration, Chinese families and friends.
Singapore Christmas in the Tropics
The key highlight of the festival is the Singapore River Hongbao wherein the marina promenade is transformed into a Chinese cultural village. Here there will be an amazing line-up of performers for the festivities and activities. A fitting finale to the celebrations is the Chingay Parade of Dreams, a grand parade of floats with technicolour displays, lavishly costumed performers, rhythmic music and thousands of spectators.
The whole is all part of Singapore’s Christmas in the Tropics, a long running celebration with spectacular feasts, concerts and count-down parties. During the last two weeks of November, buskers line Orchard Road, Singapore’s premier shopping street, providing free festive performances in the midst of the Christmas shopping frenzy.