Marina Bay Sands casino’s winning streak puts pressure on rival Resorts World Sentosa

Singapore's casino market has become increasingly dominated by Las Vegas Sands' Marina Bay Sands casino, leaving Resorts World Sentosa struggling to attract high-rolling gamblers. One incident last year saw a top prize at Resorts World Sentosa's Lunar New Year lucky draw for high rollers valued at only a bottle of Cognac, while Marina Bay Sands offered a new Mercedes-Benz CLA 200 worth far more.

This disparity in rewards is contributing to the lopsided nature of the casino duopoly in Singapore. The South-east Asian financial hub has seen a strong post-Covid rebound in tourist arrivals and an influx of wealthy gamblers from neighbouring countries and China, but the gains have been heavily skewed towards Las Vegas Sands' Marina Bay Sands casino.

Resorts World Sentosa's casino revenue for the first half of 2026 was less than a third of that of Marina Bay Sands. In November 2024, Singapore's Gambling Regulatory Authority deemed the Sentosa resort's tourism performance "unsatisfactory" and granted it a two-year casino licence instead of the usual three-year term. The regulator is currently assessing Resorts World Sentosa's renewal application and will announce its decision before the license expires in February 2027.

Despite adding new attractions and experiences, Resorts World Sentosa has not been able to match the "luxuriate experience" of Marina Bay Sands, which is a big draw for VIPs, the biggest casino spenders.