Singapore Casinos & Gambling

“Transformers,” the electrifying blockbuster celebrated for its multi-generational appeal, inventive storyline, spectacular action sequences and special effects, will now be developed as a new theme park mega-attraction in a partnership between Universal Parks & Resorts, Hasbro and DreamWorks Pictures.

The attraction will fuse 3D-HD media, mega special effects and stunning robotics with a ride system that will transform perceptions of theme park experiences. The rides are scheduled to make their debuts first at Universal Studios Singapore and then at Universal Studios Hollywood, both prior to summer, 2011.

In “Transformers,” Earth’s humans are caught in the middle of an intergalactic war between the friendly Autobots and the evil Decepticons, which are able to change into a variety of objects, including cars, trucks, planes and other technological creations.

Tom Williams, Chairman and CEO, Universal Parks & Resorts, said: “Transformers will be a jewel in our collection of world-class rides based on great movies. We’re thrilled to be collaborating with Hasbro, DreamWorks, director Michael Bay and the film’s executive producer, Steven Spielberg, who has been responsible for so many of our signature rides and attractions.”  Continue Reading »

From the Resorts World at Sentosa Island website:

In keeping with our blue footprint, in July 2007,RWS engaged marine biologists from appointed consultancy firm, DHI Water & Environment Singapore, to relocate corals and other marine life around the Sentosa northern coastline affected by reclamation works to the Southern Islands.

After a year in their new homes, we are proud to share that the relocated corals are thriving beautifully.

Attention all those shark fin soup lovers.  You will need to go somewhere else to get you fix of the delicacy, unless of course, you’re a high roller and have a lot of money to gamble.  In that case, eat up.  Continue Reading »

Even in these turbulent credit markets, Genting was able to secure financing for its Sentosa Island casino in Singapore.  Las Vegas Sands has already received financing for its casino, which together with Genting, make up both of the Singapore casinos.

Genting announced that it has secured S$4.2 billion ($3 billion) to build and run a casino in Singapore. Genting said the funding, comprising S$4 billion in loans and S$192.5 million in bankers’ guarantee facility, is not expected to affect its earnings in the current financial year.

Genting is building a casino on Singapore’s resort island of Sentosa for nearly S$6 billion, about S$800 million above its initial budget, due to mainly higher building expenses amid a booming construction sector in the city-state.

Strong real estate market now, just wait. Singapore should be a premiere tourism destinatinon in just a few short years.

The collective sale euphoria this year has swept in windfalls not only for home sellers, but also for the companies that brokered the sales.

Most property consultancies in Singapore have logged their best-ever year for such deals, pocketing record sums in related fees.

The run of ‘mega deals’ has also catapulted smaller property firms into the same league as the big boys.

Credo Real Estate, for instance, shot to the top of the pack this year by landing the $1.34 billion sale of Farrer Court in Farrer Road.

The local firm, started in 2002, specialises in collective sales. Bigger players like DTZ Debenham Tie Leung and Knight Frank also handle areas such as investment sales and office leasing.

In all, Credo sold $2.17 billion worth of collective sale sites this year. That is 20 per cent more than the next best performer: DTZ with $1.8 billion.

But DTZ also turned in a record year, said Mr Shaun Poh, the consultancy’s director of investments and auctions. ‘In terms of fee income, it was a fantastic year for us, the best year so far.’

The consultancies all declined to reveal how much they had earned from collective sales this year, but Mr Poh helped shed some light.

Keep Reading

Restaurants have tripled over the past two years on Singapore’s Sentosa Island.  It looks the island is starting to attract weddings, which have increased the demand for food and beverages.  In addition, the restaurant owners have their eye on the opening of Resorts World at Sentosa, which will open in a few years, as a source of increased visitation. 

From the article:

And such developments have attracted more food & beverage outlets to start up on Sentosa - from just three in 2005 to nine outlets today.

Said Thomas Teo, Managing Director Wine Network: “Before this, a lot of (F&Bs) went into Sentosa and didn’t quite make it; they were struggling. With the new setting and the new policies, and the IR (integrated resort) coming in, it’s a whole new ball game altogether.

“Within the next three years, when the IR comes in with the mega hotels with the casinos, we believe the traffic is going to grow by many, many times. We believe we can tap on that.”