Singapore’s casinos reopening July 1 for select audience

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Singapore’s two casinos will reopen to certain members of the public on Wednesday, July 1, albeit under significant operating restrictions.

The Singapore Tourism Board recently confirmed that the city-state’s two integrated resorts – Las Vegas Sands’ Marina Bay Sands and Genting Singapore’s Resorts World Sentosa – would be allowed to restart operations on Wednesday. Both venues were ordered closed on April 7 as part of the government’s ‘circuit breaker’ plan to limit the further spread of COVID-19.

However, the casinos will only be welcoming back the upper-tier members of their respective customer rewards programs, as well as “existing annual levy holders,” aka locals who’ve already paid the SG$3k that gives them unlimited access to the casinos for a 12-month period (so excluding the less committed gamblers who opt for the SG$150 daily levy on a pay-as-you-go basis).

These gamblers will be subject to ‘strict safe management measures,’ including mandatory mask use. The casinos will also be limiting the number of players per gaming table, prohibiting bets by ‘standing’ patrons and keeping all electronic gaming machine and slots customers at least 1 meter apart.  

Furthermore, while both casinos are reopening some of their non-gaming amenities, the government stated that “most attractions” will be restricted to 25% of their normal operating capacity.

Most of Singapore’s other gaming options have already begun restarting their operations. Lottery and sports betting monopoly Singapore Pools relaunched its online wagering platform two weeks ago, and just last week resumed lottery draws and retail sales, although its Livewire outlets and off-track betting shops remain closed at present.

July 11 will see the resumption of racing at the Singapore Racecourse, although the Singapore Turf Club clarified that racing will be conducted on a ‘spectator-free’ basis “for the time being.” The Club has yet to issue a schedule for its restarted operations but urges customers to keep checking its website for updates.

Singapore reported 202 new COVID-19 infections on Monday, nearly all of which are foreign workers in dedicated dormitories. Singapore’s total number of cases to date stands at 43,661 with only 26 deaths.