The Best Casinos in Singapore: The Definitive Guide (2022)

Singapore is commonly known to be a conservative country that strives to preserve its traditional social institutions and practices. The government of Singapore often introduces new regulations and laws to keep peace and order. 

However, noticing the golden opportunity to attract more tourists and increase employment in the country, the government decided to suspend its established laws and legalised gambling in the mid-2000s. 

Today, Singapore is home to two of the world’s biggest casino resorts — Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa — and is considered to be one of the most exciting gambling destinations in the world. 

The two legally operating casinos welcome foreigners without imposing an entrance fee. But the Government isn’t totally supportive of its own citizens gambling. They charge a S$100, or US$70, daily fee for Singaporeans and Singapore permanent residents upon entering the casinos.   

If  you plan to visit Singapore, you may want to check out these two mega casino resorts as millions of foreign tourists do every year in Singapore on their getaway. 

Keep reading to learn more about Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa as well as find answers to your questions about casinos in Singapore. 

Casinos in Singapore

Singapore may not be as popular as Vegas or Monte Carlo when it comes to gambling, but it still offers the most luxurious casinos, along with a wide range of casino games. 

Let’s get started with our introduction of Marina Bay Sands Casino which is located inside Singapore’s iconic five-star hotel resort, Marina Bay Sands.   

1. Marina Bay Sands Casino

It is pretty unlikely to miss Marina Bay Sands without being fascinated by its unique design with three enormous hotel towers and a rooftop deck in the heart of Singapore. The ground floor offers its guests a luxurious space with 600 tables featuring a wide variety of games, along with 1600 slot machines. Although most of the tables and slots are situated on the ground floor, Marina Bay Sands Casino measures 4 floors, having additional tables and slots on the second and fourth floors. But at the same time, keep in mind that the upper floors are mostly reserved for VIP members. The casino has an area for non-smokers too. Not only this, but also it is famous for having the world’s largest chandelier made of Swarovski crystals. They have recently introduced electronic table games for players as well. 

Location:

10 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018956. 

Entry Fee:

It is free for foreigners. For Singaporeans and Singapore permanent residents daily entry fee is S$100 and annual entry fee is S$3000. 

Rules & Regulations:

All guests (Singapore citizens, permanent residents, and non-residents) must show a Valid ID. Some of the Valid ID forms can be Driving License, Passports, NRIC, Immigration Pass, Student Pass, Work Pass, etc. Visit the website of Marina Sands Bay to see what other forms of ID proofs are available. 

Dress Code:

The casino’s dress code is smart casual. It is not allowed to wear casual short pants, sleeveless shirts, flip flops, and slippers. 

Casino Games:

The casino has 600 table games and more than 2300 slot machines spread throughout the four floors. Table games include Sic Bo, Blackjack, Baccarat, Poker, Pontoon Pandemonium, Craps, Roulette, Royal Three Pictures. Slot variations are Cash Cove, Cash Cove Fish On, Duo Fu Duo Cai, Stacks 88 Progressive Jackpot, Good Fortune Progressive Jackpot, Jin Ji Bao Xi Progressive Jackpot, Lightning Link, Ocean Magic. 

Pros:

We think Marina Bay Sands Casino has several advantages that make a player’s gaming a unique experience. 

Wide range of casino games: You can find literally hundreds of different games at Marina Bay Sands. If you enjoy card games you can choose to play Blackjack or Poker. But if you prefer table games you can choose Baccarat instead.

Free entrance for tourists: If you are not a Singapore citizen or a permanent resident, you can enter Marina Bay Sands for free. That’s the reason why people who visit Singapore for a vacation, spend a few hours at the casino, even if they’re not gamblers. 

World-class service: Also known as one of the most important hotels in Singapore, Marina Bay Sands provides its guests with excellent service.

Amenities: Marina Bay Sands is an exhilarating place, not only because of its casino, but also many facilities. The star is the Skypark infinity pool which is the world’s biggest swimming pool on a rooftop. On the ground floor, there is a shopping mall offering 300 stores within almost 1 million square feet.

Cons:

As Marina Bay Sands mainly operates as a hotel resort rather than a place built specifically for gambling, there are a few things that can cause your gambling experience to be less comfortable. 

Smoking inside: It is allowed to smoke inside Marina Bay Sands Casino. If you’re a non-smoker or have allergies, we suggest you not stay inside for too long.

Long queues: Marina Bay Sands welcomes thousands of players each day. Personnel have to check out each visitor’s ID which mostly means that you may need to wait in the queue for longer than you expect.

Alcoholic beverages are not allowed: Although it is allowed to smoke inside, it isn’t permitted to drink alcoholic beverages. If you enjoy a drink while playing your favorite casino game, maybe it isn’t the best place for you.

2. Resorts World Sentosa Casino

The first casino in Singapore is Resorts World Sentosa Casino, which opened only a few months before Marina Bay Sands Casino in February 2010. It is located right beneath the Resorts World Sentosa which is an exclusive all-suite resort in the southern coast of Singapore. The casino attracts thousands of tourists every year thanks to its glamorous interior design, entertainment, and the top fine dining restaurants. Here, you’ll find more slot machines - 2400 slot machines - than you can find at Marina Bay Sands. However, there are less table games - 500 table games - at the casino. Nonetheless, the numbers are more than enough to please a typical player. 

Location:

8 Sentosa Gateway, Singapore 098269.

Entry Fee:

As it is mentioned earlier, Singapore has strict rules for its citizens and permanent residents when it comes to gambling. Singapore citizens and permanent residents must pay S$100 for a daily pass, or $2,000 for a yearly casino membership. Fortunately, it is free for tourists. 

Rules & Regulations:

Only those who are older than 21 can enter the casino. Foreign nationals are allowed to enter only if they provide valid ID proofs which include a foreign passport, short-term immigration pass, long-term visitor pass with photo ID or a foreign passport, student pass, work pass, or an identification card issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Dress Code:

The dress code is casual at the casino, but it is not allowed to wear shorts and flip flops. 

Casino Games:

With over 450 tables, the table games include: baccarat, blackjack, Caribbean stud poker, craps, Pai gow, pontoon, Texas hold’em, and progressive 3 card poker.

Pros:

We think there are various strong points that make gambling at Resorts World Sentosa a memorable experience. 

Complementary casino services: Resorts World Sentosa provides players with different membership options for gaming benefits. They include Classic membership, Gold club, Maxims club, and Maxim's club platinum. Also, there are several fine dining restaurants where you can try a wide variety of Asian cuisines. 

Safe gaming atmosphere: Safety is prioritised at the casino. By law all players are prohibited to have chips that are more than the amount of S$10,000 outside the premises. You’ll also find a peaceful environment since the music is always kept low. 

Low-cost betting: If you’re a low-stakes gambler, it is the best place for you to gamble because the bet limits are quite low, at about $10, compared to average.

Cons:

Here are a few elements to consider before you decide to gamble at Resorts World Sentosa Casino as they may impact your gaming experience.   

Mediocre poker experience: It isn’t ideal for non-smokers since the poker tables are located in the smoking space. Keep in mind that you will be exposed to cigarette smoke while you play. 

Old machines: The casino offers older type table games and slot machines that may be unsatisfying if you are looking for brand new casino games.

Frequently Asked Questions about Casinos in Singapore

Here, we’ve compiled a list of commonly asked questions about casinos in Singapore. Visit here to find more information about the regulation for casinos  as well as online gambling in Singapore. 

How many casinos are there in Singapore?

Singapore is home to three casinos - Marina Bay Sands, Resorts World Sentosa, and The Aegean Paradise Cruise - that make it the forth in the world after the United States of America, Macau and Canada. 

Are casinos legal in Singapore?

Yes, casinos are legal in Singapore. It is considered a fun activity, especially for tourists. It is important to note that one must go to legally operating casinos and avoid underground betting which is forbidden by the Betting Act.  

Is there a dress code for casinos in Singapore?

Yes. The dress code usually is smart casual or casual, but shorts, sleeveless shirts, slippers and flip flops aren’t allowed. 

Is gambling legal in Singapore?

Only certain kinds of gambling are allowed in Singapore. This includes casinos and horse racing. Today it is also allowed to play online casino games on certain websites. 

Are there any casinos at Singapore airport?

No, there are no casinos inside Changi Airport in Singapore.

Conclusion

As we discussed in details above, both Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa provide players with excellent casinos that offer a wide range of table games and slots. In addition, they include many amenities such as the famous SkyPark at Marina Bay Sands and the luxurious spa at Resorts World Sentosa. We think, all in all, it is worth it to visit one of these casinos if you ever visit Singapore.