MACAU BUSINESS by Muhammad Cohen
Hard luck casino A
Singapore’s first integrated resort has had a rocky start. With intergalactic glitches, legendary laryngitis, and worst of all, disappointing casino revenues. The naysayers are having a field day…
plaque at Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) declares it “Singapore’s first Integrated Resort”. The S$6.6 billion (MOP38.3 billion) property opened months ahead of schedule, but perhaps RWS should
have slowed down. In early operations, the integrated resort (IR) has
suffered a series of mishaps and, reportedly, casino revenue below expectations. “The poor performance to date shows that they perhaps would have done better to get everything ready before they rushed to be the first to open their doors,” IGamiX Managing Partner Ben Lee observes. Sheldon Adelson, chairman of Las Vegas Sands,
whose Singapore IR Marina Bay Sands (MBS) delayed its debut by several months until late April, looked like a clairvoyant for scoffing, “Let them open first, and we’ll see what mistakes they make.” Indeed, early
guests at MBS complained of air conditioning, phone and plumbing problems, plus dysfunctional meeting rooms. Experts are divided on whether RWS is going
through the inevitable teething problems or has deeper flaws. “Once they are fully complete and make those necessary operational adjustments, I predict that Singapore’s IRs will be the most popular tourist and gaming destinations in the region,” University of Nevada, Las Vegas Singapore Campus Dean Dr Andy Nazarechuk says.
New Year luck In January, RWS partially opened four hotels
without IR amenities. It received its gaming license and opened its 15,000 square metre (161,459 square foot) casino on February 14, the first day of Chinese New Year, attracting a reported 128,000 visitors in its
20 JULY/AUGUST 2010
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