Genting's Singapore resort hotels to open January 20

06.01.2010, Genting Singapore said this week that it will open the first part of its us$ 4.4 billion casino-resort in the city-state on January 20, beginning with four hotels. "Resorts World Sentosa is working closely with the authorities to obtain approvals for Universal Studios Singapore, which will open next," the company said in a statement.

Genting Singapore, a unit of Malaysia's Genting Bhd, said it will announce the start date for the casino when it receives the licence from Singapore authorities. Singapore legalised casino gambling in 2005 and said it will allow two casino-resorts to be built as part of ambitious plans to double visitor arrivals to 17 million by 2015.

The city-state's other casino-resort, Las Vegas Sands' us$ 5.5 billion Marina Bay Sands, is scheduled to begin its phased opening in April, although many analysts doubt if the firm can meet the target date.

Casino operators in Singapore will pay an effective tax of around 12 % on net revenue from gamblers, giving them an incentive to draw Asian high rollers away from Macau where the tax is just under 40 %.

Genting declined to provide estimated start dates for its Singapore casino or Universal Studios theme park, Southeast Asia's first, although a spokesman said testing and commissioning of the various rides had started in early November.

A spokeswoman for Singapore's Casino Regulatory Authority said Genting made an initial submission for a casino licence in October 2009 and the completed application package was received in December. Singapore casino laws are based on regulations in the United States and Australia.

Such applications typically take more than three months to process as they involve vetting casino owners and managers, casino industry officials have said.

Yogonet.com / Reuters

Über Glücksspiele in Macau - Gambling in Macao:

Macau (englisch Macao) liegt rund 50 Kilometer westlich von Hongkong und ist das Glücksspiel-Paradies in Asien.

Macau hat rund 40 Spielcasinos. Die grössten Casinos sind The Venetian Macao, MGM Macao, Wynn Macao, Galaxy StarWorld, City of Dreams, Sands Macao, Casino Lisboa.

Neben den riesigen und farbenfrohen Casinobuildings ist eines der Wahrzeichen der Macau Tower (Fernsehturm mit 338 Meter) mit atemberaubenden Ausblicken auf die Stadt.

Macau erstreckt sich über eine Fläche von 115.3 km2 und hat rund 620'000 Einwohner.

--- Ende Artikel / Pressemitteilung Genting's Singapore resort hotels to open January 20 ---


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