Singapore Casino Gambling Statistics
A decline in gaming revenues suggests that Singapore’s casinos may have to look to other avenues for growth.
- Casinos in Macau, the world’s biggest gambling market, generated 63 per cent of the company’s US$13.7 billion in revenue last year, while Singapore added 22 per cent.
- Singapore Casino Revenue Statistics, white label online gambling, casino farmington mo, guy dunlap poker.
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SINGAPORE — Singapore’s two glitzy casinos are fighting for a shrinking pool of high rolling players as China’s corruption crackdown and economic slowdown reduce the number of VIPs at their. 6th Mar 2020 Latest quarterly Casino Revenue Report data for Singapore. The data released for the city-state contains the following information: Casino gaming revenue and implied market shares for Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa. There are approximately 210 data points in this document.
The Marina Bay Sands casino has become an iconic mainstay of the Singapore skyline. Moshe Safdie’s 57-story structure is an architectural sensation. Three high-rise towers hold the 1.2-hectare SkyPark aloft, offering panoramic views over the city. But there are signs that not everything is as stable as it seems in Singapore’s casino sector.
Singapore’s evolution into a casino and resort destination
Rewind to the 1990s. Singapore had already carved out its status as one of Asia’s tiger economies. Businessmen and women arrived in their droves each week. But few would have chosen the city-state as a holiday destination.
Singapore approached its tourism drive in the same way it approaches other social and economic challenges; with ruthless efficiency. It needed to give the businessmen and women a reason to stay.
In 2010, Genting Group opened its Resorts World Sentosa, a luxury casino and resort complex complete with a Universal Studios theme park. Ten weeks later, Las Vegas Sands opened Marina Bay Sands. The two resorts immediately gave visitors a reason to stick around.
The resorts injected cash and jobs into the city
Since 1997, international tourist arrivals have more than doubled. In 2017, 17.4 million tourists arrived in Singapore, tripling the city’s population, and contributing to 4% of the gross domestic product (GDP).
Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa played a central role in this uptick in tourist figures. In their first year in operation, the resorts reaped a combined US$5.1 billion in gambling revenue. They generated approximately 45,000 jobs, many of which came from the local work pool. Las Vegas Sands chairman, Sheldon Adelson, made a point of focusing recruitment drives on Singaporean talent.
The tides may be turning for Singapore’s casinos
Singapore Casino Gambling Statistics Games
Recently, there have been indicators that Singapore’s casinos may be heading for a financial wobble. In 2016, both the Resorts World Sentosa and the Marina Bay Sands saw their revenues decline. The Marina Bay Sands posted revenue declines on a year-on-year basis for five consecutive quarters. The Resorts World Sentosa saw its downturn last for seven straight quarters.
Although revenues have recovered, Singapore is in the midst of a VIP player exodus. VIP players are gamblers who deposit more than S$10,000 (US$7,250). In Q4 of 2017, the Marina Bay Sands saw a 4% decline in VIP turnover, and almost a 3% decline in mass-market table revenue. The hotel occupancy rate also dropped by 2.5 points from the previous year, despite the average room rate falling by 1% on 2016 levels.
Las Vegas Sands president and chief operating officer, Robert Goldstein, said he was “disappointed” at the drop in gaming revenues. He added, “I don’t see why there would be any catalyst in the near future to drive that”.
The picture at Resorts World Sentosa is similar. Net profits in Q2 of 2018 were up. However, earnings before interest, taxation, debt, and amortisation (EBITDA) fell by 8% year-on-year. Gaming revenue also fell by 8% from Q2 of 2017. Genting did not provide information on VIP revenues.
In 2016, gaming accounted for around 75% of the total revenue at Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa. If the casinos cannot reverse the decline, the profitability of both casinos could suffer.
What is behind the decline in gaming revenue?
Several factors have caused a decline in Singapore’s gaming revenues. Firstly, regional rivals have emerged. South Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines have relaxed gambling laws in recent years. The weaker dong and peso have attracted international visitors.
Between 2012 and 2016, the Filipino gaming industry expanded rapidly. It was worth just US$1 billion in 2012. By 2016, the industry was worth almost US$2.25 billion. The Philippines has capitalised on VIP gamblers from mainland China, who can call their bets into Manila’s casinos by phone.
Singapore Casino Gambling Statistics 2019
The rise of gambling apps has also led to a decline in gamblers using brick and mortar casinos. Their convenience is a major draw for the local population, particularly as Singaporeans still have to pay S$100 (US$73) to visit a casino.
What does the future hold for Singapore’s casinos?
As Goldstein pointed out, there is no catalyst on the horizon to bring gaming revenues back to their former heights. Although the government blocks many international gambling sites, apps continue to allow local players to gamble online. As long as players can use apps for free, the casinos will have little luck enticing local Singaporeans to their tables.
For international arrivals, those hoping to travel explicitly to gamble are far more likely to visit the Philippines due to the weaker currency.
Singapore’s tourist numbers offer a glimmer of hope. They continue to climb. 2017 numbers were up 6% on 2016 figures. This may not mean more players at the tables, but it will mean more visitors to the shows, restaurants, SkyPark, and Universal Studios.
The casinos are not going anywhere any time soon. But don’t be surprised if Las Vegas Sands and Genting intensify their efforts to diversify their income streams.
Marina Bay Sands and the Resorts World Sentosa have successfully woven their way into the fabric of Singapore’s tourism industry. They helped build the tourism sector into the vast US$26.8 billion industry it is today.
Providing visitor numbers continue to climb; the two resorts will continue to post healthy revenues, even if their gambling revenues continue to drop. The curtain may be creeping down on Singapore’s brick and mortar gambling sector, but there is no shortage of opportunities to capitalise on its booming tourism industry.
Related
What Constitutes Gambling?
Under the Remote Gambling Act (RGA), “gambling” is broadly defined to include betting, gaming, and participating in a lottery.
The RGA defines “betting” to include the staking of money or money’s worth on the outcome of a horse-race or sporting event.
Under the Common Gaming Houses Act (CGHA), “gaming” refers to any game involving an element of chance, or of mixed chance and skill, where players stand to gain money or money’s worth of rewards.
Games which do not involve money (e.g. a simple game of mahjong between friends with no cash involved) do not fall under the CGHA.
The CGHA also regulates public lotteries, which is defined as a lottery to which the public or any class of the public has or may have access. A “lottery” is defined as any game, scheme or competition whereby money or money’s worth is distributed in a manner dependent on chance, whether or not such a lottery is held or managed within or outside Singapore.
When is it Legal to Gamble in Singapore?
Gaming in a “common gaming house” is an offence under the CGHA. A “common gaming house” includes any place kept or used for gaming, habitual gaming and public lottery, whether or not the public has access to it.Thus, whether the gambling behaviour in question crosses the line into an illegal act depends on whether the gambling venue is kept as a common gaming house, or a place to be used for gaming.
Private gambling
While the CGHA does not provide a definition for private gambling, it is generally considered as gambling in a place to which the public may not have access (e.g. at home).
Private gambling constitutes an offence if the place where such gambling is carried out is kept specifically for the purpose of habitual gaming as a common gaming house.
Anyone found guilty of gaming in a common gaming house will be liable for a fine up to $5,000, or to imprisonment for a term up to 6 months, or to both.
Gambling in public
Gambling in public refers to gambling in a place to which the public may have access and includes any place in which 10 or more persons are employed.
It is illegal to gamble in any public place. For example, gambling at a funeral held in a void deck may be illegal as a void deck is a public place.
However, if the funeral is held in a private place (e.g. rented space for events) to which the public does not have access, gambling there may be illegal as long as the private place in question does not constitute a common gaming house (as mentioned above).
Anyone found guilty of gaming in a public place will be liable for a fine up to $5,000, or to imprisonment for a term up to 6 months, or to both. Their gaming instruments may also be seized and forfeited.
Placing bets with bookmakers
Bookmakers’ activities are regulated under the Betting Act. Under the Betting Act, a bookmaker is any person who receives or negotiates bets or wagers on a cash or credit basis in exchange for money or money’s worth.
Any person who bets or wagers with a private bookmaker (also known as a “bookie”) in any place or by any means shall be guilty of an offence. Offenders will be liable for a fine up to $5,000, or to imprisonment for a term up to 6 months, or to both.
On the other hand, it will not be illegal to bet with exempted bookmakers such as Singapore Pools, Tote Board and the licensed casinos here.
Playing with jackpot machines
As jackpot gambling falls under the definition of “gaming” in the CGHA, it is illegal to participate in jackpot gambling in a common gaming house or in public unless the jackpot machine is located in a club which is permitted to operate the machine.
Is there a Minimum Age to Gamble Legally in Singapore?
The minimum age to gamble legally in Singapore varies according to the venue of the gambling activity. There is no one minimum age that applies to all gambling activities.
Generally, you have to be at least 18 years of age to gamble in Singapore. For example, Singapore Pools only allows individuals aged 18 and above to buy 4D or TOTO tickets, or placing horse racing bets. To have an account with Singapore Pools, you need to be at least 21 years old.
Under the Casino Control Act, you have to be at least 21 years of age before you can legally gamble in casinos. Minors found guilty of faking their age to gain entry to the casinos will be liable for a fine up to $1,000.
Online Gambling under the Remote Gaming Act
What is online gambling?
Under the RGA, “online gambling”, also known as “remote gambling”, is defined as gambling in which players participate through remote communication.
Such remote communication includes communication through the Internet, telephone, television or radio, or any other kind of electronic or other technology which facilitates communication.
Legality of online gambling
Section 8 of the RGA states that anyone who gambles through remote communication and uses a remote gambling service (explained below) shall be guilty of an offence.
It does not matter whether the gambling was done by the individual only, or together with any other person, or whether the individual directly or indirectly participated in the gambling.
What is a gambling service?
A “gambling service” is defined to include a service for the:
- Conduct of a public lottery;
- Supply of public lottery tickets;
- Placing, making or accepting of bets; or
- Conduct of game of chance where the game is played for money, or money’s worth, and customers give money, or money’s worth, to play the game.
Point (4) however, does not apply to social games and mobile applications which allow players to purchase tokens or game-enhancement features. This is as long as these games do not provide facilities to convert these tokens or features to money, or to real-world merchandise which can be exchanged for money.
When is online gambling legal?
Online gambling is legal if it is done through an exempt operator. Currently, only Singapore Pools and Singapore Turf Club have been granted certificates of exemption under the RGA. However, other operators may be granted certificates of exemption in the future.
In the event of doubt, it would be best to obtain more information as to the exemption status of operators by lodging an inquiry with the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Consequences of illegal online gambling
If you have participated in unlawful remote gambling activity, a financial institution provider may be issued with a payment blocking order that may:
- Prevent it from accepting credit extended to you;
- Prevent it from accepting any cheque, bank draft or similar instrument which is drawn by or issued to you;
- Prevent it from accepting any funds transfer to or from you; or
- Cause it to block payments or prohibit transactions where these use merchant codes customarily associated with gambling transactions.
You can also be arrested without a warrant.
If you are found guilty of unlawful remote gambling under the RGA, you will be liable for pay a fine up to $5,000, or to imprisonment for a term up to 6 months, or to both.
Sentencing guidelines
The sentencing framework for first-time offenders under section 8 of the RGA was considered in the case of Lau Jian Bang v PP.
In that case, the court stated that first-time offenders under section 8 of the RGA will generally be fined at least $1,000 instead of receiving an imprisonment term.
The exact amount of the fine is pegged to the amount of the offender’s bets. Factors which could increase the amount of the fine would include steps taken to conceal one’s illegal bets and lack of remorse. An offender who pleads guilty in a timely manner or cooperates with the authorities may face a smaller fine.
An imprisonment term will generally only be imposed in cases involving repeat offenders.
Prohibition against inviting persons under 21 to gamble online
Under section 13 of the RGA, it is an offence to invite, permit, or cause a person under 21 years of age to gamble online in Singapore.
This includes actions such as sending the person an advertisement about an online gambling service or highlighting information about online gambling to that person with a view of encouraging him or her to gamble online.
Anybody found guilty of inviting a person under 21 years of age to gamble remotely shall be liable for pay a fine of at least $20,000 and up to $300,000, or to imprisonment for a term up to 6 years, or to both. This is unless you can prove that you took all reasonable steps to determine the individual’s age and that you reasonably believed that the individual was at least 21 years of age.
Tips on Gambling Legally in Singapore
Gamble in a private place with trusted friends
In order to avoid being charged for illegal gambling, you must not gamble in a public place, or a common gaming house where habitual gaming takes place.
It is also best to gamble only with a trusted group of friends and refrain from adding others to this group. This is because inviting strangers to gamble may be construed as gambling in a place to which the public may have access, constituting the offence of gambling in a “public place”.
Avoid gambling with seasoned gamblers as they may attract unwanted attention from the authorities. Seasoned gamblers may be characterised as those who are willing to spend large sums of money when gambling, or those who have outstanding debts due to their gambling habits.
Place small bets
You should cap your bets at a small amount. This this will help authorities to understand that you are engaging in a social activity with friends, instead of operating a common gaming house.
Bet only with exempted betting operators
Avoid private bookies, and place bets only with exempt betting operators. You should also not attempt to flout the minimum age requirement for betting with exempt operators.
Steps to Take If You Have Been Charged with a Gambling Offence
If you have been charged with a gambling offence, you may want to consider hiring a criminal lawyer to represent you in court.
The lawyer may assist you in seeking acquittal in the event that you did not in fact commit the offence in question.
For example, say that you have been found playing mahjong in public. Under the law, you will be presumed to be gaming in public for money or money’s worth, which is an offence.
However if there was actually no money involved in your mahjong session, a lawyer can highlight this to try and help acquit you of the offence.
Alternatively, the lawyer may assist you by establishing a defence or, if you are convicted of the offence, by seeking a lesser penalty for it.
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