Singapore approves Malaysian group's casino plan: regulator

Resorts World Sentosa, built by Genting on a former British military outpost at a cost of US$4.4 billion, opened four premium hotels last month in expectation of the license.

Singapore's casino regulator said the license was issued on Saturday.

“The Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore has issued a casino license to Resorts World... on 6 Feb 2010,” the regulator said on its website.

Resorts World Sentosa chairman Lim Kok Thay said the organization was pleased to receive the license.

“We are very happy to have received the casino license,” he said, and thanked the authority for working “tirelessly to set up the regulatory framework within a very aggressive timeline.”

In addition to the casino, hotels and convention facilities, Genting will open a Universal Studios theme park by March at the complex on Sentosa island, which is already packed with leisure attractions.

A marine life park, maritime museum, spa and two more hotels are scheduled to launch after 2010.

Singapore gave the go-ahead for casino gambling in 2005, setting off a flurry of construction that went ahead despite last year's recession.

The government hopes the casinos will boost the country's tourism appeal.

The small island-republic relies mainly on man-made attractions to entice tourists.

Marina Bay Sands, another such casino resort, is scheduled to open in April following construction delays. It is being built by United States (U.S.)-based Las Vegas Sands.

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