Tan Kin Lian's Blog: Resort World Sentosa

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Resort World Sentosa

If you visited Resort World in Sentosa during the past few days, please share your experience here.

I have received a few negative comments, i.e. the resort is patronized mainly by foreign workers. Singaporeans are deterred by the $100 entrance fee.

REX mentioned that it is uncomfortable and hot to watch the shows in Universal Studio. I am surprised that the shows are performed outside. The heat is likely to deter visitors. We already had failures in Haw Par Villa, Tang Dynasty City and other theme parks - did not not learn from our past experience?

Someone circulated an e-mail with an image of the Straits Times photo, showing many visitors lying down at the entrance. He asked if this is a resort or a refugee camp?

Perhaps, we can have some positive comments?

43 comments:

Anonymous said...: Did anyone go to the casino? Are the croupiers mainly singaporeans or foreigners?; February 16, 2010 11:11 PM
Anonymous said...: The govt approved the creation of IRs. That's all they will want to be responsible. Image and profitability will be up to Sands and Genting mgt to resolve. However, with the negative publication, I bet the Govt will not want to say anything. Just collect rent, lay back and squeeze the police to settle the loan sharking problems. For those who fall into the trap of gambling, too bad. Govt cannot micro manage and they will probably tell you "Buyers beware!" or "Nobody force you to gamble. We approve casino, why you go? Settle your own gambling problem."

For the next 1 year, if more incidents for families breakup and suicide happens, it is going to be a election issue. I bet the newspapers will suppress such incidents and show to all that everything is ok.; February 16, 2010 11:15 PM
Anonymous said...: When gambling in a casino, variance is your best friend.

My favorite casino game is Baccarat which I play when I go up to Genting with friends to unwind. The following is something which has always worked well for me.

Assuming that you brought S$1k to Resorts World for some fun. Should you

1) Go to the S$10 Baccarat table and play 100 hands using the minimum bet of S$10
2) Go to the S$10 Baccarat table and bet S$ 200 on 5 hands.

If you do 1), you run up against the Law of Large Numbers. The house edge works against you and Resorts World has a much higher certainty of winning the expected amount from you.

If you do 2) however, the variance in the game is immense. The house edge has almost no meaning and the game is almost pure chance.

The worst you can do is

3) Go to the S$10 Baccarat table and play 1,000 hands using the minimum bet of S$10

This is the worst as you are effectively betting S$10,000 with S$ 1,000 as your starting capital. The large number of hands played means that that the house edge will cut you deeply. In all likelihood, you will leave losing most of the S$1,000 you had brought. This is regardless of the system/money management technique you are using.

Sadly most small timers, many of my friends included, adopt 3) when they go and play.

When gambling in the casino, you should gamble only with money which you can afford to lose.

In the long run (100 games or more), the casino will always win.

In the short run however (5 games or less), it is possible to walk out of the casino a winner.

Regardless of what many "professional" gamblers might say, it is impossible to make a living gambling in a casino.; February 16, 2010 11:16 PM
Anonymous said...: Never never go to a Casino in the hope of winning or to have some fun. One u will surely lose. Two fun can turn to addiction. So the best is not to enter the Casino.; February 16, 2010 11:27 PM
-OTB- said...: Hi Aurvandil ,

Based on my experience in Genting and Macau, I had better luck on method (3) above.

If you have been winning based on your method (2), I am envious on your lucky hand.

just my opinion.
-OTB-; February 16, 2010 11:41 PM
Anonymous said...: The Straits Times published the following article.

It is somewhat irresponsible as it indirectly encourages people to do 3).

When you gamble all night, it is very easy to play more than 1,000 games and give the casino a high certainty of winning most of the money people had brought.

----

Feb 16, 2010

Overnight, and game for more

By Alexis Cai

IF CASHIER Judy Gan seemed a little bleary-eyed when she emerged from the Resorts World Sentosa casino at 8.30am yesterday, it was because she had been gambling at baccarat for 11 hours.
And the friend who accompanied her there on Sunday night was still in the gaming hall, not done yet.
Madam Gan, 53, said: 'I'm not that tired, I slept in the afternoon before arriving here. I'm going home to nap, and I'll come back again in the afternoon.'
She said she had come with $1,000 to gamble and was happy to have doubled her money.
Unlike her, Madam Huang Ya Zhu, 71, barely covered her losses after gambling all night. The grandmother of six and her younger sister played roulette and baccarat for 14 hours before they left at 9.30am yesterday.
'Even though I only made enough to cover my losses, the experience was still worth it. It's convenient and a beautiful place,' said Madam Huang.
They were among thousands who thronged the casino over the last two days.
The Singaporeans were mostly middle-aged folk, dressed in their Chinese New Year's best. Some were armed with jackets and shawls, prepared to stay overnight.
In the foreigners' queue were mostly Asian visitors, ranging from casually dressed foreign workers to well-heeled tourists, as well as the occasional Caucasian.
First in line on Sunday were Englishmen John McCarthy, 28, and Steve Travers, 31, who work as business analysts at a bank here. They began queuing at 7am even though the doors were not due to open until 12.18pm.
Armed with four cans of beer and a bottle of mineral water, the friends were nonchalant about the long wait.
'It's our first Chinese New Year here and we wanted to do something special. We've been to casino openings in Las Vegas and those were really grand,' said Mr McCarthy.
Also there was Mr Bong Boon Kiat, 43, a Malaysian working here. He said he could not get an air ticket home for the holidays, and wanted to see if Resorts World was better than the Genting Highlands casino.
He spent about two hours at the casino on Sunday, playing the dice game Dai Sai. He was back again yesterday, this time spending seven hours at the casino.
'I like this casino, it is more beautiful than Genting's, much more spacious and convenient for me to come to.'; February 16, 2010 11:53 PM
Anonymous said...: Dear Aurnvandil, The odd stack against you everytime you bet. It does not matter how many times you bet. The only way to win the bet is to increase your odd and that is the well kept secret of a few talented professional gamblers.; February 16, 2010 11:59 PM
Parka said...: I never believe in luck, and therefore don't believe in gambling.; February 17, 2010 12:27 AM
Unknown said...: I think it would be a big headache for the casino operator if all the foreign workers in Singapore would to visit the casino during their time off on Sunday and to make it their meeting place. The large number of domestic helpers are not included at this point in time.

The casino operator would have to handle this problem quickly and make sure that their opertation is not hijacked by these unwanted visitors. It is an unexpected problem, and least of all, they would not expect help from the government.; February 17, 2010 1:38 AM
Anonymous said...: i understand that the casino provided free drinks and snacks. If that is so, all foreign workers should make the casino as the new meeting place as this will save them money going out.; February 17, 2010 6:22 AM
Anonymous said...: The casino in Genting provides free small cups of hot drinks.
I believe in luck for gambling. But the period of good luck for gamblers is quite short. So overall, the casino is still the winner.
I like to play "tai sai". You put(bet) say $10; the outcome is real fast: either $0 or $20 (ie profit 100%) will be back into your hands.; February 17, 2010 7:13 AM
Anonymous said...: Rex comments as follows,

just a small clarification, there were some free simple performances in the afternoon just to keep the crowd occupied, they are not really :shows: as described in the post.

Yesterday was a particularly warm and humid day. As it is today the rain came finally, hope that it will be a shower of blessing on this controversial project.

rex

rex; February 17, 2010 8:04 AM
Anonymous said...: Remember that a casino is a business. And that business is to keep you entertained in exchange for your cash. You could say that it is much like a theme park, only that the former offers you a chance to earn your money back or more, and that the stakes are higher.

Most gambling problems arise from being carried away by the excitement the games and the environment offers. Here we offer a few tips and reminders in order for you to avoid falling into the traps that were made to make one spend more:

1. Clocks and windows are absent in almost all casinos. This is to make you forget about time and be engrossed in gambling. Time literally equates to money when inside a casino, so always wear a watch and set a limit on how long you will stay.

2. Casinos replace your money with plastic and/or virtual denominations. While chips may be there to ease the discomfort of lugging a huge wallet around, they also serve another purpose: they make you lose sense of how much money you are losing. Also, new slot machines use virtual credits instead of tokens, thus making you susceptible to treating your money with less value than it really has.

You could easily regain control through having a defined bankroll before you go into a casino. By doing so, you have set the limit as to how much you are willing to lose before you actually lose.

3. Dealings and games are fast-paced. This would put pressure on you to play the game in their tempo, thus making you lose some valuable time to make the correct decisions. Do not give in. If you are playing at the tables, take the time to contemplate about the strength of your hand. If you are at the machines, try to play at a moderate pace.

4. Casinos give you free drinks, and offer more. While it may be a welcome addition to your session, alcohol does make your judgment cloudy. If you value your money, try to stay away from alcoholic drinks as much as possible.

5. Casinos offer the illusion that whatever you won was their money. This makes players re-bet their winnings, thinking that they had not lost at all even if they do lose. This is of course, outrageous. Your winnings become YOUR money, and losing them means that you have lost your money.

Always try to remember: the casino itself is a large game.; February 17, 2010 8:39 AM
Anonymous said...: I once saw a Van at Genting carpark with the back open. A maid and 2 kids sitting behind eating. Where was their parents? Your guess is as good as mind.

Can you imagine how it got started? Nice enviornment, bright lights, free drinks & food, Adults go Casino, Children & maid go Theme park etc.

Initially is only for curiousity. Small capital but lost all. A few more visits, it becomes a necessity. Then each visit is to win back the last visit's lost. Self denial set-in, they are not addicted, just want to have fun.

All statistics and stories indicate that you can never beat the house. Why try? 2 Major Evils can ruin a family i.e. Gambling and Alcohol. Beware, the Govt is not going to help you. This is worst than Minibond.

Know yourself well before you entry your luck. Best is don't even try. I have been to Genting numerous time, so far I only went into the Casino once. My conclusion is that you lose faster than you can earn....; February 17, 2010 9:03 AM
-OTB- said...: hi smilee,

Why discriminate the foreign workers?

I don't think they are willing to pay $6 (I guessing this amount) Sentosa entrance fee just to enjoy free drinks on their weekend off.

If they go, most likely they will make some bets.

-OTB-; February 17, 2010 9:45 AM
Anonymous said...: OTB

If you play Baccarat often, you will notice that the hands sometimes streak. When this happens, you usually see a crowd gathering round that table. The dealer looks under pressure as the bank quickly empties. It is at tables like this that I will usually bet the table limit (RM 1K to RM 2K depending) for FUN. As it rarely happens, I usually end up betting 5 to 10 hands at most whenever I visit the casino.

Statistically speaing, Baccarat is a memoryless game so my odds have not actually improved. It is just for fun and relaxation with friends.; February 17, 2010 10:23 AM
Anonymous said...: There was a foreign worker dormitory in the vicinity where I lived.

I have noticed for a long time that the queue at the Toto/4D outlet nearby has majority of foreign workers (from their looks and attire).

So why should the casino be any different if we see so many people there in the queue who look like foreign workers?

Besides building our skyline they also contribute to our govt revenue in this way. How much and what impact on us or the casinos we may not know.; February 17, 2010 10:59 AM
Anonymous said...: Just hope that the casino will not cause increase in divorce and broken family. There is a Chinese saying " Among all immoralties, gambling is the worst"; February 17, 2010 11:54 AM
Anonymous said...: The nation-building toes the PAP government's agenda. In this case, it is to support the IRs. Because all this government cares about is that the PM does not lose face, and money must be made.; February 17, 2010 12:09 PM
Anonymous said...: This is the experience of a foreign journalist.

http://www.sbr.com.sg/news/2287; February 17, 2010 12:42 PM
positive view... said...: Casinos are for gambling.

The IRs are a mix of casinos and meeting conventions and entertainment.

We do not need to enter the casino.

I was in Las Vegas some years back and watched many performances by celine dion, cirque de soleil etc.
I entered the casino but never played any games, although slot machines were lined up all the way to the elevators to my room!

Casinos are a business and they bring in money for hotel, shows.
My hotel room cost me only US$40 and after the 2nd night, I was offered US$27 if I extended another 2 nights!

The public must understand the concept and realise that gambling is choice that they choose.
I choose to enjoy the perks that casinos offer... subsidised by the gamblers! ( who always think they are better than the house ); February 17, 2010 1:06 PM
Anonymous said...: I have a close friend whose sister
married into the Genting boss
family. She said in the Genting KL casino, a certain whole hotel floor
is blocked, only to be occuppied by
a Thai monk, who spend his time the
whole night in each room by turn to
meditate and pray the casino would
make money every day.
So gambling folks, make sure you
gamble only when the sun is out
shining and stop after 5pm, and once you make a pile, stop immediately and leave the place to
spend your winnings elsewhere.
Never return to the cassino, or else you would lose all back, and
even your capital.
If a monk is employed in Genting KL, it will happen the same in Singapore.; February 17, 2010 1:31 PM
Tan Kin Lian said...: A friend who went to Resort World Sentosa said that the entrance fee of $100 applies to citizens and permanent residents. This is stated in the sign at the entrance.

Foreigners (i.e. tourists and foreign workers) are exempted from this fee.; February 17, 2010 3:26 PM
Anonymous said...: Whether foreigner or not, when lost everything, turning to crime is a real issue.

"Man stole after casino losses" at http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_491285.html

This happened on second day of opening.; February 17, 2010 5:16 PM
Anonymous said...: Anon 1.31pm,

I thought the whole floor haunted by ghosts of those who commited suicide bec of losses in gambling??

That's why they have the Thai Monk.

Maybe I got the wrong info.; February 17, 2010 6:20 PM
hongjun said...: The casino is not for Singaporeans and PRs :(
So EX!

Less than $100 can get me to Genting. Cooler weather some more!; February 17, 2010 6:52 PM
Anonymous said...: There is this expectation that by building the 2 casinos, Singapore wil suddenly become a glam and happening tourist mecca.

There are so many countries with casinos. Aside from Las Vegas, Atlantic City and Macau, how many tour packages have you seen that tout a visit to the casino as the highlight of the trip?

The only way the casinos can transform Singapore economically is if there is a secret plan to issue lots of casino licenses so that every other 5 star hotel operating in Singapore can have a casino operating on their premises.

The other extreme view that the 2 casinos will collapse is also unlikely to happen. After the initial teething problems have been sorted out, I am sure they will turn out to be reasonably profitable ventures. The levy which is causing all sorts of problems will be circumvented in some clever way. Also those pesky foreign workers who embarassed everyone on the first day will soon find themselves less than welcome.

The creditors who lent money to build the 2 ventures might be in for a rollercoaster ride as the projected returns seem wildly optimisitc. Expect to see cash flow problems and some scares.

The IRs have however become Singapore's equivalent of "too big to fail". If anything seriously happens, we can expect that there would be a quiet, behind the scenes the bailout using Singapore taxpayer monies.; February 17, 2010 7:24 PM
wisdom said...: The fee of $100 is per entry per 24 hours. That means if you entered the casino at 0001 min past midnite, it will expire 2359 the same date.

To remain inside the casino, another $100 is required for the next 24 hours.

If you overstay 1 min, you can be fined $1000.

This "levy" is a deterrent enough for many gamblers. Otherwise, they will have to buy an annual pass that costs $2000. This pass expires after 90 days.

Genting and gaming ships will remain as options for die hards.

Enjoy the facilities of the resorts, just avoid the casinos and you will be ok.
We are already gambling with our lives everyday: elections, eating, and crossing the roads, breathing the pollution.

Moderation is key.; February 17, 2010 7:36 PM
Anonymous said...: The $100 LEVY -- is that one of the privileges being a citizen? I guess the other obvious one is the Forced CPF Life Scheme!; February 17, 2010 9:34 PM
Hermit said...: When you bet in a casino, the odds are always against you. That's how they make money.; February 17, 2010 11:25 PM
Anonymous said...: Will James Bond ever come to the Casino in Singapore?....".Akan Datang" on the next movie I'm sure!No problem paying the $100/- Levy to see the JamesBond & his Girl.; February 18, 2010 6:24 PM
Anonymous said...: i went on the 16 Feb. it was damned bloody packed. the q to pay for the levy $100 was relatively long. i waited 10mins just to pay the levy.

inside the casino was equally packed (although half the hall is not in operation). each gambling table ( about the size of a dinning table meant for 8 pax) was crowded by about 20-30 people all waiting to placed their bets. Yes, u r rite, u have to wait to place the bet (exactly as what reported in the newspaper).

For the slot machines, all have been taken up with absolutely not a single machine available. I waited for 1/2 hr and still cant play the machine.

to sum it up, its not a conducive casino as it is too crowded and having paid the levy and still make to stand and crowd ard the gambling table is really ridiculous.

i would say RWS is actually not ready to open for biz actually. Nonetheless, based on the number of gamblers there, i would said it a real success for RWS.

lastly, i made $250 (i bet $25 on each stake) and decided to leave after 4 hrs.; February 19, 2010 12:15 PM
Anonymous said...: to further add on.

the levy paid are meant for v good caused. As stated, the levy is not going to RWS but to charity or social needs. hence, i would urge all singaporean to pay the levy as a form of donation.

But i am nt saying u go in u must gamble. pay the levy for a good cause and help the less fortunate so that the world can be a better place.; February 19, 2010 12:45 PM
Anonymous said...: I was in both the Universal Studio (UNS) preview and the casino. Below are my feedbacks:
(i)i was reasonably impressed with the theme park. you can see that it is quite detail orientated - although just 20ha - the different rides and attractions are blended very well together. It does give you an "overseas" feeling. I rate it a few notches better that the HK Disney. With hindsight, the $10 preview should have been reserved for Singaporeans Senior Citizens since it does not make sense for them to pay the full fare when they are not going to enjoy the Rides. Instead, the preview which came with some small scale shows plus a Free meal (exchanged by the $10 ticket) would have been an enjoyable outing for them. Instead, I have seen numurous tourists "given" this priviledge as there were limited tickets each day.
(ii) the casino was a letdown becasue of the crowd. There was constantly a long queue at the cashier and its kind of deter you from exchanging the Chips to cash even if you have made a winning. The dealers are inexperience - i spotted several mistakes of miscalculations of takings...

Cheers; February 19, 2010 2:24 PM
Anonymous said...: Everything is beautiful especially the Universal Studio etc.....but 1 thing SUCKS is the HUMID Weather!!!; February 20, 2010 10:27 PM
Anonymous said...: I was in Singapore on business last week and visited the casino on Saturday. I used to live in Singapore until 2008 so kind of knew what to expect and set my expectations (i.e. i expected it to look nice but not be too much fun). Turns out it didn't even live up to my low expectations. I gamble in Las Vegas often so am comfortable in casinos. I have also gambled in Macau several times. However the Sentosa casino was just dreary. It looks nice of course, but the crowd was largely laborers and tourists who just wanted to walk around. Their was not nearly as much gambling as I expected and the dealers were like robots - which is very different in Vegas where most dealers are very friendly and talkative if you want to talk. The whole place both inside and outside the casino was very packed with tourists who were just wandering, the only places that were busy were the restaurants because I suppose everyone has to eat. But the stores and the gaming tables were pretty empty. There were also just tons of lines everywhere to simply walk into places, then when you're inside (e.g. the casino) the pathways are crowded but the tables empty. I don't know how profitable this place will be but I don't think it will be that much. I enjoyed living in Singapore, it wasn't great but it was decent. However Singapore will never be a tourist destination given its rigidity.; February 24, 2010 8:37 AM
Unknown said...: there is a saying in the casino " money won is better than money earned " the issue with people that frequent the casino, is that it is their private lives, no-one is outside the door forcing the public into the place, The casino has an addded advantage, in that the law of averages works in their favour, odds are still odds at the end and most people cannot beat the house advantage. as small as 0.5% at blackjack if played with yhre correct startegy.; February 25, 2010 9:50 AM
Anonymous said...: I run a small construction company and I really happy since the Casino opens. I drive my workers in my lorry everyday to enjoy the 1$ buffet. It saves me a lot of cash and make me look good in the eyes of my workers that think I treat them to a 5 stars meal every day. The most positive side is the fact that my workers are working harder to show me some gratitude.
I hope The sands will have the same Buffet so i can save on gas.; March 02, 2010 5:35 PM
Anonymous said...: Just visited yesterday . Lost over 1k within an hour ... My budget was $500 however went to make another $500 and another $500. Later started to change for the better recovered all and made an overall profit of 1k . I played poontoon and the table minimum bet was $100 a hand . Well don't go if u don't have enough capital. Casino is big and some waiting will get u seats ...; March 04, 2010 12:48 PM
Anonymous said...: i went to RWS last week for the 1st time. I paid the levy and lost about $500 on slots. I went back 2nd round and lost another $500.

Just now I paid another levy to get in. I lost $600. In total I lost 1.8K when I am in very bad debts.

I think is time to apply for the restraining order.; March 21, 2010 7:12 AM
Anonymous said...: well, i think that gambling once in a while is ok, but being addicted to it is bad.
will the casino have an effect on the loan sharking problem that singapore already has?
i think it will; May 02, 2010 10:53 AM
janw123 said...: This is a very good tip especially to those fresh to the blogosphere. Short but very precise information… Appreciate your sharing this one. A must read post!sbobet CASINO; August 14, 2013 12:35 PM
Anonymous said...: The odds are not in your favour at Resorts World Casino so in the long run you would lose. Also the casino disturbs gamblers by amplifying sounds too loudly from the lousy performing artists on the main stage thereby taking away the fun factor and cause people to lose concentration. Also I believe they send people to interrupt the game and good cards if you are winning.; June 21, 2015 10:57 AM

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Resort World Sentosa

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