S&P forecasts a bounce back for casinos in Singapore Malaysia and the Philippines. Gaming floors hum again. Revenues may match or top pre‑Covid peaks as local punters and travellers return. Chinese tourists lead the charge. Visits to Singapore and Malaysia now rival those before the global shutdown.
Premium mass tables remain the backbone of the market. High‑end gamblers shrug off economic worries. They wager and stay engaged. That trend underpins the region’s revenue surge.
Singapore saw Chinese nationals pour in after visa‑free access began in February 2024. The result was a 50 percent jump in first‑quarter takings. Malaysia followed suit in December 2023. Both markets reap the rewards of looser entry rules.
Genting Bhd reigns as a regional heavyweight with properties in both cities. It eyes New York’s casino scene next. A full US licence could supercharge its Resorts World New York City operation. Failure at that hurdle would undercut its stateside ambitions.
Elsewhere in Asia‑Pacific challenges loom. Cambodia’s casinos flag without the junket operators who once drove 70 percent of their revenue. China’s anti‑money‑laundering crackdown still weighs heavily on local halls. Thailand scratched its landmark casino bill. Lawmakers argued venues could boost tourism. But legalisation stalled once more.
Online betting lifts the wider market. Tech advances fuel a digital gambling boom. This year web‑based wagering in Asia‑Pacific may near US$21 billion. Mobile uptake and rising incomes promise a 12.8 percent growth rate. Projections point to steady progress through 2033.
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