Genting Singapore says its Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) integrated resort (IR) in the Asian city-state has plenty of non-gaming attractions to keep Chinese visitors coming, despite a warning from Beijing that its people should not seek out cross-border gambling opportunities.
The Malaysian-based company said China was the chief source of visitors to Singapore in February, surpassing Indonesia. About 327,000 Chinese visitors arrived in the city, accounting for 30 percent of all foreign arrivals.
“According to the Singapore Tourism Board, the increase in numbers was due to the relaxation of visa regulations between Singapore and China that took effect on 9 February 2024,” Genting told shareholders. “The improvement in Chinese arrivals is expected to contribute positively to RWS’ performance.”
On March 18, the Chinese Embassy in Singapore “solemnly reminded” residents of the People’s Republic of China to “stay away” from gambling, adding that cross-border gambling violates Chinese law.
“Even if overseas casinos are opened legally, cross-border gambling by Chinese citizens is suspected of violating the laws of our country and face the risk of punitive actions,” said the embassy statement.
Asked about the warning, Genting deflected the question and pointed instead to its non-gaming attractions, which appeal to “leisure and business visitors from the region and beyond.”
As reported by Asia Gaming Brief, Genting Singapore plans a SG$6.8 billion (US$5 billion) investment in RWS to reinforce the destination’s appeal.
