Marina Bay Sands: The $6.5 Billion Jewel of Singapore

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Xenia Luch

21 June 2024

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Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

Marina Bay Sands stands tall as the largest resort with a casino in Singapore. Since its grand opening, it has held the title of the world’s most expensive casino project, boasting a staggering price tag exceeding $6.5 billion. This resort goes beyond expectations, offering visitors an expansive shopping center, a plethora of restaurants, and the planet’s largest casino atrium featuring 500 tables and 1600 slot machines.

One of the Pillars of Singapore’s Economy

In 2005, Singapore’s bigwigs rolled the dice to give the country’s economy a kick by opening two casino resorts. It was their bet to rake in some extra cash and spice up the city-state’s tourist appeal. They threw down the gauntlet for the opening of two integrated resorts.

Resorts World Sentosa clinched the first win. Nestled on Sentosa Island off Singapore’s southern coast, it snagged the title of the third most expensive building ever ($5.03 billion).

Resorts World Sentosa - Singapore
View of the Resorts World Sentosa to the seaside

Next up was the heavyweight, Las Vegas Sands. This American gambling industry titan went all-in, footing the bill for the casino’s construction.

Both casino resorts snagged licenses for a 30-year run, with the first decade holding the exclusive keys.

Sheldon Adelson, the CEO of the multibillion-dollar Las Vegas Sands Corp., was already making moves in the East, having set up shop with several casinos in China, including the legendary Venetian Macao.

Sheldon Adelson
Sheldon Adelson

Initially, Adelson pledged to drop $3 billion into the resort, not counting the cost of the prime real estate. But plans hit a snag.

In the late 2000s:

  1. Global construction material prices soared.
  2. Singapore faced a worker shortage due to a building boom.

Come 2009, Adelson spilled the beans, revealing that the total investment in the resort’s construction had ballooned to $6.88 billion.

The casino-hotel was slated to reel in an expected annual revenue of $1 billion. Sheldon aimed to recoup the costs in just 5 years — a modest timeline given the astronomical project cost. 

Note: Predictions by experts hinted that 5 years after the grand opening, Marina Bay Sands was expected to boost the country’s GDP by almost 1% and create job opportunities for 30,000 people.

Sheldon Adelson’s Gamble on Asia’s Future

Renowned architect Moshe Safdie took the helm of designing this masterpiece. The blueprint was laid with three 55-story hotel towers boasting a total of 2560 rooms, seamlessly connected by a continuous lobby at the base of the complex.

The hotel towers have a broad base that gradually narrows as they ascend. Each tower stands on two supports of asymmetric shapes, with one leaning on the other. During construction, this design posed significant challenges, requiring exceptionally sturdy temporary structures to raise the towers.

Curved towers of Marina Bay Sands
Curved towers of Marina Bay Sands

A standout feature of the resort is the SkyPark — a sprawling lounge area atop the roof spanning 12,000 square meters. Crafted in the shape of an ocean liner, it ingeniously links all three towers.

Within the confines of SkyPark, an open relaxation area unfolds, featuring bars, restaurants, lush palm plantations, and the pièce de resistance — an Infinity Pool.

SkyPark - Infinity Pool
Infinity Pool in SkyPark — the longest of its kind globally

Construction Phases and Challenges Faced

Originally slated for a grand opening in 2009 as a single-phase project, the complex hit a roadblock due to the global financial crisis of 2008.

The first of the four planned phases took off on April 27, 2010. Guests were introduced to the casino, a section of the conference hall, a shopping center, and 960 hotel rooms. Two months later, the resort declared its official opening, marking the occasion with a 2-day celebration.

On June 23, 2010, additional nightclubs, restaurants, and shops, along with the remaining 1500 hotel rooms and the rooftop SkyPark, became accessible.

The final elements within the resort premises, including the Sands Theatre, were successfully concluded in the spring of 2011.

Inside the Casino Giant of the Garden City

Marina Bay Sands Casino
Marina Bay Sands Casino

Inspired by ancient Roman architecture, Marina Bay Sands’ casino design took cues from Caesars Palace, but with a modern urban twist fitting Singapore’s style.

Covering 15,000 sqm, it stands as one of Singapore and Asia’s largest casinos, featuring 500 tables and 1600 slots.

Here’s a glimpse of the available games:

  • Sic Bo: Classic variant only.
  • Blackjack: Two variations.
  • Baccarat: Eight different rule sets.
  • Poker: Four disciplines, including Pai Gow.
  • Craps: Classic rules.
  • Roulette: European and American.

To sweeten the deal, a loyalty program is in place. Playing in the casino, shopping, settling room bills, or dining earns patrons special Sands dollars. These can be freely spent across the resort, covering bets, car rentals, and more.

Did you know? Entry to the casino is free for tourists. However, locals pay $150 Singapore dollars ($110) for a single visit, or opt for a yearly pass at $3000 (~$2220).

Marina Bay Sands Today: A New Chapter Unfolding

Marina Bay Sands

Since its inception, the Marina Bay Sands casino has held its ground without expansion. However, the winds of change blew in the spring of 2022 when plans for a 4th hotel tower were unveiled. This new addition is set to bring a 1000 more hotel rooms. The estimated cost for this venture? $3.3 billion. Construction is on track, aiming for completion by 2029. 

In 2024, Marina Bay Sands casino made it to the top 500 of the world’s most valuable brands, according to the brand valuation consultancy Brand Finance.