Singapore regulator to launch full-scale inspection of casinos

"With both casinos having been in operation for more than a year, they would have by now sorted out any kinks in their operations and moved into a steady state of operations," Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA) Chairman Richard Magnus said during a seminar. "It is timely then that CRA commences a full-scope inspection of the casinos this year," he said, according to the text of his speech that was posted on CRA's website.

CRA last month slapped Resorts World with us$ 427,000 in fines for various offenses such as paying the casino entry levies for media representatives and not maintaining its surveillance system and processes to the standards required.

Magnus said the full-scale inspections "would be on top of our regular monitoring of the casinos". It would include detailed on-site inspection of electronic gaming equipment as well as comprehensive checks on the casino operations, he added. "I thought I should mention this since senior officers of the two casinos are also with us today," he said.

Singapore legalised casino gaming in 2005 in a bid to double visitor arrivals by 2015. Genting Singapore's Resorts World at Sentosa opened in February last year, while Las Vegas Sands' Marina Bay Sands started operations in April.