Stakes rise in Southeast Asia’s casino race as Singapore’s rivals place bets

Stakes rise in Southeast Asia's casino race as Singapore's rivals place bets Stakes rise in Southeast Asia's casino race as Singapore's rivals place bets

SINGAPORE — When Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands (MBS) integrated resort went almost completely dark during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown, the absence of guests in the three gleaming towers, with their casinos, hotels, malls and event spaces, symbolized the country’s tourism industry grinding to a halt.

The pandemic also put on hold the grand expansion plans of both MBS, owned by Las Vegas Sands (LVS), and its casino rival in the city-state, Resorts World Sentosa, owned by Malaysia’s Genting.