What Makes Singapore's Casino Scene Unique Compared to the West?

Singapore is regarded as one of the world's major gambling hubs and is home to two of the most lavish land-based casinos in the world. 

Although online casinos are still not legally permitted here, players living in Singapore can access some of the iGaming industry's most popular offshore casinos. 

With that said, let's dive straight in and take a closer look at Singapore's vibrant casino scene to see how it compares to the West in places like Europe and North America. 

Are there any online casinos in Singapore?

Yes. There are currently hundreds of online casinos in Singapore, but none of them are legally permitted. In other words, online casinos aren't legal in Singapore. 

However, people aren't breaking any local laws when they play at 'offshore casinos' controlled by foreign operators because these sites fall outside of Singapore's jurisdiction.

If you want to explore trusted online casinos in Singapore, your safest bet is to see what the experts say on globally renowned iGaming review sites such as the official casinos-singapore.com website. Their dedicated team of expert writers and researchers have carefully handpicked today's safest Singapore online casinos. 

How does Singapore's casino scene compare to the West?

In each of the world's biggest casino gambling hubs, such as Las Vegas, Macau, Atlantic City, Monte Carlo, Reno, and London, there are typically many different land-based casinos to choose from, where the focus is usually on quantity and variety. 

However, things are different in Singapore. It's more contained, and there are just two casinos – Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa. The focus here is on quality, not quantity, and providing luxury tourism services.  

For example, the casinos in Singapore also have the following:

• convention facilities

• fine dining restaurants

• high-end shopping facilities

• luxurious hotel accommodation

• entertainment venues

• theme parks

• Various other amenities

In other words, although there are only two casinos to choose from, they have everything a tourist could ever want from a land-based casino. They cater to millions of foreign tourists each year, welcoming everyone from singles and couples to small and large families or groups. 

Singapore's casino scene has successfully balanced Western and Asian influences, showcasing both traditional and contemporary aesthetics and designs.

These two iconic sites hold exclusive gaming rights in Singapore, and their current licenses extend through 2030. Both venues were purposely built to help grow Singapore's tourism and economic goals, and they stand as attractions in their own isolated gambling hub. 

They have become more than just gambling establishments. As mentioned, there is more of an emphasis on providing luxury tourism, and the architecture of these two casinos is magnificent. The Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa casinos have both become symbols of modern Singapore. 

There is also more of a focus here on protecting gamblers with a commitment to responsible gambling more than in any other casino gambling hub elsewhere. 

The government actively tries to discourage locals from gambling at casinos, who must pay a small fee to enter the casinos, and they have also taken a strict stance towards online casino gambling. 

Final thoughts

If you decide to gamble at a land-based or online casino in Singapore, remember to set a reasonable spending budget before playing. 

Also, when playing online, stick to the fully licensed and regulated sites that are controlled by reputable operators, which typically have thousands of live dealer and computer-generated games from several top-tier software providers. 

They usually accept a broad range of popular Singapore online payment methods (e.g., credit & debit cards, prepaid cards, and eWallets), and some even accept cryptocurrencies. 

They are free to join, have a guaranteed sign-up bonus for new players, and can be accessed by anyone aged 18 or above with a decent-working Wi-Fi/internet-connected PC or mobile device.