Singapore: casinos allowed to relax capacity restrictions
Singapore’s government has started to ease Covid-19 restrictions allowing capacity increases in some businesses, including casinos.
Singapore.- Authorities in Singapore have started to ease Covid-19 countermeasures after seeing a decline in cases.
Under “Phase III” controls, businesses such as museums, public libraries and cruises have been allowed to increase their capacity from 25 per cent to 50 per cent. As for casinos, Marina Bay Sands has removed its limit of two people seated at one gaming table.
Resorts World Sentosa has announced that most of the venue’s attractions will operate at a capacity of 50 per cent.
According to authorities, hotels can welcome guests again and feature live performances and shows.
Sanford C. Bernstein recently predicted Singapore GGR this year would grow 12 per cent year-on-year, mainly through domestic demand, reaching nearly 48 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.
As long as the arrival of tourists continues to be affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, it will be local demand for gaming that drives the growth.
However, Robert Goldstein, chairman and chief executive of Las Vegas Sands Corp, controller of the Marina Bay Sands casino resort, said domestic demand will decrease once people can travel abroad again.
Singapore in talks with South Korea to establish a travel bubble
The South Korean government is in talks with Singaporean and Taiwanese authorities about a potential travel bubble from July.
According to the South Korean Transport Ministry, the travel bubble will be open only to those who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Local media reports that so far only 4.5 per cent of the population are fully vaccinated.
Initially, travellers will be required to show negative Covid-19 test results three days before departure and test again upon arrival at their destination. Tourists will also have to follow an itinerary rather than roaming freely.
As for a travel bubble with Hong Kong, authorities in Singapore will analyse the situation next month before announcing a new launch date.
