KEY TAKEAWAYS
Singapore allows casino gambling only at two integrated resorts, Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa, and every visitor must meet the same entry rules. Everyone must be 21 or older. Foreign visitors do not pay to walk in, but they must show identification at the door. Singapore citizens and permanent residents, by contrast, must buy an entry levy before they can enter.
This guide explains who can enter, what visitors should carry, how the resident levy works, and how Singapore compares with the United States. It describes physical venues only and treats local rules as facts to plan around, not as something to judge. Figures are dated October 2026 and come from the operators and Singapore authorities, so confirm them on the casino’s official site before you travel. If you plan to gamble, set the budget first and treat it as entertainment spending.
Singapore’s Two Casinos at a Glance
Singapore’s National Council on Problem Gambling lists two casinos in the country: Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa. Both are integrated resorts, with the casino inside a larger complex that includes hotel stays, dining and retail, according to their official sites.
Marina Bay Sands describes its casino as spanning four levels, with approximately 600 table games and 3,000 electronic gaming machines, and says it operates 24 hours daily. Its table games include baccarat, roulette, sic bo, blackjack and poker, and it says all table games use casino chips bought at the tables or the cage. Resorts World Sentosa runs its own casino and its Genting Rewards program, and it applies the same age and levy rules.
| Criterion | Marina Bay Sands | Resorts World Sentosa |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum age | 21 | 21 |
| Entry levy for citizens and permanent residents | S$150 for 24 hours; S$3,000 for a year | S$150 for 24 hours; S$3,000 for a year |
| Casino size stated by operator | About 600 tables and 3,000 machines, four levels | Not verified in this guide |
| Hours stated by operator | 24 hours daily | Check the official site |
Figures are as of October 2026. Both casinos apply the same age and levy rules, so the entry basics are the same at either one.
Who Can Enter and What to Bring
The first rule is a minimum age of 21. Marina Bay Sands states that its casino is open to patrons aged 21 and above, and Resorts World Sentosa’s Genting Rewards site says only people 21 or older are allowed in. Under the operator’s published conditions, a minor who enters or remains in the casino commits an offence and may be fined up to S$1,000, and winnings paid to a minor are forfeited.
The second rule is proving your status. Marina Bay Sands requires non-residents to produce identification showing they are not Singapore citizens or permanent residents, for example a foreign passport with a short-term immigration pass, or a work pass with a photo. Visitors enter and exit through lanes marked for foreigners, while citizens and permanent residents use separate lanes.
The third rule is exclusion orders. People subject to an exclusion order issued by the Singapore authorities, excluded by law or barred by the operator may not enter. Marina Bay Sands notes that undischarged bankrupts and people receiving financial aid from the Singapore Government are automatically excluded. These are part of Singapore’s social safeguards.
Bring your passport whenever you plan to visit the gaming floor, since it is the usual proof of non-resident status.
The Resident Entry Levy Explained
Foreign visitors do not pay, but you will see the levy mentioned everywhere, so it helps to understand it. Singapore citizens and permanent residents must buy a levy before entering: S$150 for 24 consecutive hours, or S$3,000 for a one-year period, according to Marina Bay Sands and Genting Rewards as of October 2026. Entering or remaining without a valid levy is an offence that may carry a fine of up to S$1,000 plus the applicable levy.
Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs has described the levy as a social safeguard to deter casual and impulse gambling by locals, and as a reminder that gambling is an expense rather than a way to make a living. The Gambling Regulatory Authority adds that the levy is not a payment for entry or play, so it is not refunded if unused.
where the SGD per USD figure is the exchange rate on the day you convert. For illustration only, the reference rate published by the Monetary Authority of Singapore on October 16, 2026, was 1.2812 Singapore dollars per U.S. dollar, as relayed by a rate aggregator. At that rate, S$150 ÷ 1.2812 ≈ US$117.08, and S$3,000 ÷ 1.2812 ≈ US$2,341.55. Rates change daily, so check a current rate before you rely on these figures.
Planning Your Visit
Set the budget in U.S. dollars first, then convert it. A gambling budget set in advance belongs in your trip budget alongside flights, lodging and food. Because Singapore dollars are the local currency, convert the total once at a rate you check that day and decide how many sessions you will play.
Here is a hypothetical example, not a recommendation: a traveler sets aside US$300 for two evenings of play, one session each. At the illustrative rate of 1.2812, US$300 × 1.2812 = S$384.36 in total. With 2 sessions, that is S$384.36 ÷ 2 = S$192.18 per session, or US$150 per session.
Resorts World Sentosa’s FAQ also notes that travelers entering or leaving Singapore with physical currency or bearer negotiable instruments worth more than S$20,000 must file a report form. At the same illustrative rate, S$20,000 ÷ 1.2812 ≈ US$15,610.37. Most casino trips involve far less cash, but it is a rule worth knowing before you pack.
Marina Bay Sands says its casino operates 24 hours daily. Confirm hours and entry conditions on the operator’s site before you go.
Singapore Compared With the United States
U.S. casino rules vary by state and tribe, so a single comparison cannot cover every venue. The table compares Singapore with the U.S. on three verifiable points rather than on quality or atmosphere.
| Criterion | Singapore | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum age | 21 at both casinos | Set by each state or tribe; tribal-casino examples range from 18 to 21 |
| Number of casinos | Two casino resorts | 545 tribal gaming establishments alone in fiscal year 2025 (NIGC), plus commercial casinos |
| ID for visitors | Proof of non-resident status required | Set by the venue and its regulator |
The practical difference is how uniform the rules are. In Singapore a visitor faces the same conditions at both casinos. In the United States, the age and alcohol policy can differ between two casinos in the same state, as the guide on tribal casinos explains.
Singapore’s approach is not better or worse by default. It is simply a different regulatory design, and the right comparison for a traveler is what to prepare: a valid passport, the minimum age, and a budget set in advance.
Tips, Rules and Common Mistakes
The most common mistake is forgetting identification. A visitor who cannot show a passport or other accepted document may be refused entry, so keep your passport with you rather than leaving it in the hotel safe on the night you plan to play.
Another mistake is using the wrong lane. Foreign visitors must enter and exit through the lanes marked for foreigners. Do not try to work around the levy or the lane system; the operator and the authorities enforce them, and the rules for residents carry fines.
A third mistake is skipping the budget. Decide your gambling budget before you travel, convert it once, and divide it across your sessions. Gambling is paid entertainment, so plan to leave when the session’s amount is gone.
Finally, check the operator’s site for dress and conduct policies and for current hours, since these can change.
Quick Facts
Facts below are dated October 2026; confirm them with the casino before you travel.
| Topic | Verified fact |
|---|---|
| Casinos in Singapore | Two: Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa |
| Minimum age | 21 at both |
| Resident levy (citizens and PRs) | S$150 for 24 hours; S$3,000 for a year |
| Visitors | No levy; must show ID proving non-resident status |
| Minor entering casino | Offence, fine up to S$1,000 per operator conditions |
| Marina Bay Sands hours | 24 hours daily |
| Cash reporting threshold | Over S$20,000 in physical currency or bearer instruments |
Always check the official site of Marina Bay Sands or Resorts World Sentosa for the latest entry conditions.
Related Guides and Next Steps
To see how entry rules differ closer to home, read Tribal Casinos Explained: A Visitor’s Guide for how minimum ages and alcohol policies vary by tribe and state, and the Las Vegas Strip vs. Downtown guide for a destination guide built around where to stay and play.
Once you have chosen a destination, confirm the entry rules, set your budget in your home currency, and convert it on the day you travel. Your next step is the casino’s official page for current conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources & References
- Marina Bay Sands — Casino (accessed October 2026)
- Marina Bay Sands — Casino Entry Levy and Conditions of Entry (accessed October 2026)
- Marina Bay Sands — Frequently Asked Questions (accessed October 2026)
- Marina Bay Sands — Responsible Gambling (accessed October 2026)
- Genting Rewards (Resorts World Sentosa) — Frequently Asked Questions (accessed October 2026)
- Gambling Regulatory Authority of Singapore — Entry Levy (accessed October 2026)
- Singapore Ministry of Home Affairs — Media factsheet on casino entry levies (2019) (accessed October 2026)
- National Council on Problem Gambling — Apply for self-exclusion (accessed October 2026)
- National Indian Gaming Commission — NIGC Announces $46.2 Billion in FY 2025 Gross Gaming Revenues (accessed October 2026)
- Monetary Authority of Singapore — Exchange Rates (accessed October 2026)
- AllRatesToday — MAS reference rates for 16 Oct 2026 (aggregator republishing MAS data) (accessed October 2026)
