On February 28, Malaysia’s only integrated resort, Resorts World Genting (RWG) in Kuala Lumpur, announced that it would immediately close two of its three casinos: Genting Casino 1 (Circus Palace) and Genting Casino 2 (Hollywood).
Following reports that the casinos had closed permanently—multiple headlines called it the “end of an era”—parent company Genting Malaysia Bhd released a statement saying the shutdowns were temporary, and the casinos will reopen after renovations, reported Free Malaysia Today.
“In our ongoing effort to improve our operational efficiency and enhance the gaming and entertainment experience for our guests, we continuously upgrade our facilities,” Genting stated. “This will involve temporarily closing certain sections of our casino to facilitate the improvements.”
Inside Asian Gaming cited local media reports that business at the two casinos had suffered since the Covid-19 pandemic. However, analysts project a full recovery this year, as evidenced by net profits of MYR158.3 million (US$33.8 million) for the third quarter of 2023, versus a MYR8.2 million (US$1.75 million) loss for Q3 in 2022.
While the casinos are closed, RWG is offering shuttle service to SkyCasino, the property’s newest gaming hall, which offers one of the largest selections of games in Asia.
“Its spacious design is inspired by an enchanted forest theme which brings the ambience of the lush greenery outdoors indoor,” the company said.
In addition to RWG in Genting Highlands, Genting Malaysia also owns and operates resorts in the United States, the Bahamas and Egypt. It has an especially strong presence in the U.K., operating 34 casinos, including five in London alone.
