Singapore casinos fall victim to temporary coronavirus closure orders

The government of Singapore has reportedly ordered the city-state’s two giant integrated casino resorts to close for a month as it steps up efforts to combat a coronavirus pandemic that is so far thought to have killed six locals.

According to a report from GGRAsia, the move means that the 1,500-room Resorts World Sentosa and even larger Marina Bay Sands are to be shuttered until at least May 4 with the island nation of almost 5.7 million inhabitants having also temporarily closed all non-essential workplaces and instituted home-based schooling.

Month-long mothballing:

Resorts World Sentosa is owned by Asian gaming and entertainments giant Genting Malaysia Berhad via its local Genting Singapore Limited subsidiary and it reportedly issued a statement on Saturday to announce the immediate closure of its casino for the four-week period. The venue purportedly moreover declared that it would ‘temporarily suspend’ hotel and restaurant reservations ‘in line with the Singapore government’s directives’ until May 4 and be momentarily decommissioning all non-gaming operations including its Universal Studios Singapore and Adventure Cove Waterpark attractions.

Reportedly read a statement from Resorts World Sentosa…

“Only selected restaurants and food and beverage outlets, which can support necessary daily living needs of residents, will remain open for takeaway and deliveries.”

Concurrent closure:

For its part and the 2,560-room Marina Bay Sands development is run by a local subordinate of American casino behemoth Las Vegas Sands Corporation and it reportedly issued a similar communique to inform patrons that its casino had been shuttered. The development furthermore purportedly stated that its remaining ‘integrated resort services and operations’ are to be closed from midnight tonight with all associated hotel and restaurant bookings to ‘be cancelled and refunded accordingly.’

Coronavirus cases:

GGRAsia reported that Singapore recorded its highest daily increase in coronavirus infections on Sunday as some 120 locals tested positive for the potentially life-threatening illness. Authorities purportedly reacted by ordering the near total lockdown and additionally instructing the country’s restaurants to operate only delivery and takeaway services.

Beneficial backing:

Singapore had reportedly already banned most foreign visitors from entering its territory and ordered its two casinos to institute a number of safe-distancing measures such as limiting the number of players who were simultaneously allowed to gamble at any one table. Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat purportedly used a Saturday social media post to pronounce that his government soon hopes to unveil a bundle of financial support measures for local businesses and households to complement the almost $33.53 billion stimulus package initiated less than two weeks ago.