Singapore approves license for first casino

Resorts World Sentosa was issued a license Saturday to operate Singapore's first casino, the city-state's regulators said.

The approval had been delayed after the Casino Regulatory Authority asked Resorts World in December for more information about the casino.

Resorts World, built by Malaysia's Genting Bhd for 6.6 billion Singapore dollars (US$5 billion), declined to say on Saturday when it planned to open the casino. Officials have previously said they planned to open it as soon as the government issued the license.

The 49-hectare resort, on an island a quarter of a mile (about half a kilometer) off Singapore's coast, opened 1,340 rooms in four hotels last month. It also plans to open a Universal Studios theme park by March.

Rival Las Vegas Sands expects to open its $5.5 billion Marina Bay Sands casino-resort in Singapore in May. The government expects the two casino-resorts to increase the country's gross domestic product growth by up to 1 percentage point, boost tourist arrivals and add 35,000 jobs.