Singapore Casinos Move Closer To Normality As COVID-19 Restrictions Lifted

Summary

• From April 26, Singapore is lifting nearly all of its COVID-19 restrictions
• Singapore’s casinos are expected to return to normal operations
• Travelers to Singapore no longer need to take a COVID test upon departure

Singapore is removing its remaining COVID-19 restrictions from April 26. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said the country is now in a comfortable position to return to pre-pandemic normalcy, citing the country’s strong social resilience.

But he noted that measures to curb the virus will not be entirely taken down as COVID-19 is still here and people should remain cautious.

Most Restrictions Now Removed

Singapore began easing its restrictions on April 1 as the pandemic situation across the country came under control. It decided to reopen its borders for the first time since the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, allowing fully-vaccinated travelers to enter the country without the need to take on-arrival COVID-19 tests or go on quarantine. From today, inoculated visitors will no longer be required to undergo tests before departing for Singapore.

Restrictions concerning mass gatherings have also been removed, which means events involving more than 10 people are now allowed and most venues can also operate at 100 percent capacity. Furthermore, businesses now have the option to call all employees back to the office.

Business As Usual at Singapore’s Casinos

With the group size limit now lifted, the 2022 Global Gaming Expo (G2E) Asia, a major international gaming trade show and conference for the gaming industry in Asia, is expected to push through with Singapore as the host. It will take place from August 24-26. The event was last held in 2019 in Macau.

The Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa enjoy a casino duopoly in Singapore which will extend until 2030. According to investment research firm Sanford C. Bernstein Ltd, business operations at the Marina Bay Sands are expected to return to normal over the next two years as the city-state lowered its alert level from Orange to Yellow for the first time since the pandemic hit in 2020.

Singapore continues to see a decline in daily infections, recording just over 2,000 cases on Sunday. The city-state’s vaccination campaign has also been successful so far, with 92 percent of the population already fully-vaccinated as of Saturday. Booster shots have also been administered to nearly three-quarters of its population.

The two casino operators remain positive that their business will pick up quickly now that COVID-19 restrictions are removed.