Singapore eases COVID-19 restrictions as casino caps increased

Coronavirus restrictions in Singapore have eased and that’s good news for the city-state’s two casinos.

GGR Asia reports that casino resorts have been allowed to ease measures that were in place to curb the spread of COVID-19.

In a statement, the Ministry of Health said Singapore would gradually reopen and move to what is known locally as phase three, and do so in two steps.

Singapore is host to two casino resorts: Marina Bay Sands, operated by United States-based Las Vegas Sands Corp and Resorts World Sentosa, run by Genting Singapore.

Now in effect at operating limits for a number of businesses, which have increased from 25 per cent to 50 per cent.

These include attractions, cruises, museums and public libraries.

Hotels have also been able to ease restrictions, including the number of people allowed in each hotel.

Event sizes have also been increased and live performances and spectator sports events have been allowed to resume.

In the latest update on COVID-19 related restrictions at its property, Marina Bay Sands removed reference to a condition that only two casino patrons could be seated at any one gaming table.

The property currently only states that the casino is now open to people over 21 years of age.

Resorts World Sentosa said on its website that most of the property’s attractions and hotels would be “operating at revised capacities”, following the easing of restrictions.

It stated that its attractions were now “operating a reduced capacity of 50 per cent), up from a previous 25 per cent cap.

Some of the scheme’s attractions, like the Adventure Cove Waterpark, remain closed, at least until June 18.

Key aspects to MBS recovery is its revamped Singapore shopping mall

The mall at Marina Bay Sands will have a number of new stores opening in the coming months as the venue looks to bounce back from a series of coronavirus imposed lockdowns.

The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands ended the first quarter of 2021 with an occupancy rate of 98.9 per cent, according to company data.

That compared with an occupancy rate of 96.4 per cent a year earlier.

The property is operated by Marina Bay Sands, a subsidiary of United States-based Las Vegas Sands Corp.

The Singapore unit said that The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands was set to welcome in June a boutique of Singapore-based Parisian perfume house Maison21G Paris.

In the third quarter of 2021, South Korean skincare brand The History of Whoo will launch at the property its “first ever” service boutique for facial care.

Italian linens and lifestyle brand Frette is scheduled to open in September its first standalone store in Singapore at Marina Bay Sands.

By the end of 2021, home and living brand Silky Miracle will launch at the casino resort its first-ever store in the city-state.

Also launching is the first Asian stand alone store of Italian luxury brand Pineider, a maker of leather goods, pens and pencils.

The opening is to take place in July.

Marina Bay Sands vice president of retail Hazel Chan said the property’s operator was “encouraged by the confidence” shown by its retail partners at the shopping venue.

Since reopening in June 2020, following a temporary closure related to citywide measures adopted by the Singaporean government to curb the spread of COVID-19 locally, The Shoppes “had welcomed more than 20 new and flagship stores”.

Financial data disclosed by parent Las Vegas Sands in April showed that The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands recorded an operating profit of US$41 million for the first quarter of 2021, on a gross leasable area of 57,627 square metres.