Singapore Casino Guide: Entry Rules, Dress Code and Etiquette

Singapore is one of Asia’s most advanced economies, and its resorts offer a correspondingly high standard of service. Its casino resorts suit a wide range of visitors, from casino beginners and friends or couples traveling together to families and VIP players.

What You Will Learn

• Singapore’s integrated resorts (IRs) operate under strict government oversight, so you can play at their casinos with confidence.
• Foreign tourists do not pay the Casino Entry Levy. You must be 21 or older and show your original passport to enter.

This article takes about 12 minutes to read.

How Singapore Came to Legalize Casino Resorts

Opening casinos in Singapore was debated in the 20th century, but the plans never went ahead.

As Macau grew into a major casino city, Lee Kuan Yew, often called the founding father of Singapore, became concerned that Singapore was losing its international competitiveness and dropped his opposition to casinos. Two integrated resorts opened in 2010.

The Singapore government remained cautious about casinos even after the resorts were completed. Each casino resort is required to have problem-gambling measures in place, and its games are subject to regulatory oversight.

As a result, both casinos operate under the supervision of the regulator.

Safety in Singapore

Singapore is considered one of the safest places in Asia, and sightseeing at night is relatively safe. If you follow basic precautions, such as not walking alone late at night, you should have no trouble. Before you go, check your government’s latest travel advice for Singapore.

That said, Singapore is a major tourist destination, and pickpocketing and bag snatching aimed at tourists are not uncommon. Travelers often let their guard down, so keep an eye on your belongings at all times.

Walking alone in nightlife districts or in areas crowded with tourists also carries some risk. At night, move around in a group; if you are traveling alone, keep nighttime trips to a minimum; and take a taxi rather than public transportation.

Singapore’s Two Casino Resorts: Features and Access

Note: The information below is as of August 2026. Entry requirements, age limits, dress codes, opening hours, facility sizes and access details may change, so check each resort’s official website before you travel.

If you plan to visit a casino in Singapore, start with how many casinos there are and where they are located.

Singapore has two casino resorts: Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa.

Marina Bay Sands is known for the large pool on its rooftop. Resorts World Sentosa includes a large theme park and is geared more toward families.

Marina Bay Sands

Highlights of Marina Bay Sands

• One of the largest land-based casinos in Asia, with all the main table games and slots
• VIP and private rooms have high table minimums and cater to high-stakes players
• The rooftop Infinity Pool is open to hotel guests

Marina Bay Sands is one of Singapore’s most iconic hotels.

The Infinity Pool, on the rooftop 57 stories above the ground, offers sweeping views over the city and is one of Singapore’s best-known sights.

Along with a hotel of about 1,850 rooms following its recent renovation, the resort includes a convention center, a shopping mall, a museum, a movie theater and more, and it draws visitors from around the world.

The casino has 500 tables and 1,600 slot machines. Besides roulette, baccarat and blackjack, it offers other popular games such as poker, craps and Sic Bo.

In the VIP and private rooms, some tables accept bets of up to S$1.5 million on a single hand. Marina Bay Sands caters to everyone from beginners to high rollers.

Marina Bay Sands at a Glance

Resorts World Sentosa

Highlights of Resorts World Sentosa

• Many attractions, including Universal Studios Singapore
• A range of hotels suited to families
• More slot machines in total than Marina Bay Sands

Resorts World Sentosa is Singapore’s leading family-oriented casino resort.

Its 49-hectare site (about 121 acres) is home to Universal Studios Singapore, the only Universal Studios theme park in Southeast Asia.

Other attractions include Adventure Cove Waterpark, with water slides and snorkeling, and the Singapore Oceanarium, one of the largest aquariums in the world, which opened in July 2025.

The resort also brings together themed hotels with a total of 1,600 rooms, a shopping mall, restaurants, a convention center, nighttime shows and much more.

The casino is large as well, with 500 tables and 2,400 slot machines. With a VIP club and 36 private salons, it also caters to high-stakes players.

Resorts World Sentosa at a Glance

Foreign Visitors Pay No Entry Levy: How to Enter the Casino and What ID You Need

Singapore’s casino rules may look detailed, but the entry requirements themselves are fairly straightforward. Visitors who are neither citizens nor permanent residents, including foreign tourists, can enter without paying the entry levy as long as they bring eligible identification.

Only Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents Pay the Entry Levy

The Casino Entry Levy applies only to Singapore citizens and permanent residents. Under the published rates, the levy is S$150 for a day pass and S$3,000 for an annual pass.

Foreign tourists and other visitors who are not citizens or permanent residents are not subject to the levy. In other words, if you can show eligible identification, you can enter the casino without paying it.

This does not mean that anyone can enter unconditionally. You still need to meet the age requirement, pass the identity check and follow each resort’s entry rules.

Prepare Your Passport and Electronic Visit Pass Before You Reach the Gate

Tourists should first make sure they have a valid passport with them. Marina Bay Sands (MBS), for one, states that non-residents must present eligible identification, such as a foreign passport together with a document showing a short-term stay, so that their age, identity and residency status can be verified.

When you enter Singapore, you also need to submit the SG Arrival Card instead of a paper arrival card. After clearing immigration, foreign visitors receive their electronic visit pass (e-Pass) by email, and it can also be retrieved from the e-Pass page of the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) if needed.

For this reason, it is a good idea to have your e-Pass ready to show along with your original passport. Make sure you can display it on your smartphone, and if you are unsure about mobile connectivity, save it in advance so you are not caught off guard on site.

Age Checks for 21 and Over and Facial Recognition at the Entrance

Visitors under 21 cannot enter Singapore’s casinos. Even if you are a legal adult at 18 in your home country, you must be 21 or older to enter a casino in Singapore. If you are asked to verify your age, simply follow the staff’s instructions.

Some resorts also use facial recognition technology for identity checks and access control at the entrance. Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) has announced that it uses a facial recognition system for casino entry checks, and MBS states that it may use facial recognition technology in its casino and gaming areas. However, publicly available information does not explain the details, such as how the images are matched against passport or immigration data.

Dress and Luggage: What to Know Before Visiting the Casino

Before you head to a casino in Singapore, check what to wear and what to bring. First-time visitors often wonder how casual they can dress and whether they can bring large bags inside. The main things to keep in mind are to dress neatly and to be ready for the identity check as soon as you arrive.

Publicly available information does not, however, include a detailed list of clothing that will be refused or a specific size limit for bags in the casino.

Dress Code Guidelines and What to Avoid

The dress code at Singapore’s casinos is about as relaxed as is typical in Southeast Asia. If you are a beginner, a simple rule is to dress a little smarter when in doubt.

For men, a collared shirt or a clean T-shirt with long pants is fine, and for women, a neat outfit that is not too revealing is acceptable. Even if you stop by in the middle of sightseeing, it is best to avoid overly casual clothing such as beachwear.

The official guideline is smart casual, but unless your outfit is extremely casual, you are unlikely to be stopped at the entrance. You should, however, remove hats, sunglasses and anything else that covers your face, with the exception of face masks.

The casino floor can also be strongly air-conditioned, so it is useful to bring a light layer such as a thin jacket or cardigan.

Check with the Resort in Advance About Backpacks and Other Large Bags

The same applies to bags: the information published by MBS does not give a clear size limit for the casino or mention a free cloakroom open to all visitors. Rather than assuming a bag is small enough to be fine, the safest approach is to check with the resort in advance if you have any concerns.

Take particular care if you plan to go with a backpack, a large bag or your travel luggage. Carrying a lot can slow down the entry check, and you may have nowhere to store your bags.

Bringing only what you need, such as your passport, wallet and smartphone, will help you get through the entry check quickly.

Basic Etiquette on the Casino Floor

On the casino floor, follow the rules of each game and the instructions of the staff.

Casino games are run according to the rules of each game and the house rules set by each resort, and the detailed rules are also posted inside the casino. Procedures vary from table to table, so before playing a game you are not familiar with, watch a round or two first to see how it is played.

Smartphones: You Can Bring Them In, but Photography Is Not Allowed

Singapore’s casinos allow visitors to bring smartphones inside.

Taking photos or videos inside the casino, however, is strictly prohibited. Using your phone at the table can also raise suspicion of cheating, so keep smartphone use to a minimum while playing table games. If you want a photo, take it at the casino entrance.

Follow the Dealer’s Instructions and Do Not Touch Your Chips Once Betting Closes

At table games, the most important thing is to act in line with the dealer’s instructions.

In roulette, for example, once the dealer announces “No more bets,” you can no longer add or increase bets. You are also not allowed to take back a bet you have already placed, so place your chips before betting closes.

If you are unsure how to place a bet or whether your chips are in the right position, do not guess; ask the dealer before you continue. Roulette rules also provide for a supervisor to make the decision when the position of a chip is unclear.

Tipping Is Generally Not Expected

Tips are generally not expected at Singapore’s casinos. Restaurants and similar venues in the resorts add a service charge to the bill, so there is no need to tip on top of it.

If you would like to show your appreciation, be aware that each resort handles tips differently. Check the signs on site or ask the staff whether tipping is allowed and how to do it.

Recommended Casino Games for Beginners

Some casino games are strategy games whose rules take time to learn, while others are easy for beginners to pick up and enjoy.

Roulette

Roulette is a game in which you predict which pocket the ball will land in. If you simply bet on red or black, you can join in on the spot without knowing the rest of the rules.

The different types of bets and their payouts are explained in the article below.

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Slots

Slots are a good choice for players who find table games such as baccarat and blackjack intimidating. On a casino slot machine, the game plays out automatically once you press the spin button, so there is little to figure out.

Many machines accept bets starting from well under a dollar, and there are also jackpot slots that pay out thousands of Singapore dollars, so slots appeal to everyone from first-time casino visitors to high rollers.

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Exchanging Money and Cashing Out When You Finish

To play at a casino in Singapore, you first need to exchange your money for Singapore dollars.

The casino cashiers at Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa may not exchange your currency, and the banks nearby tend to offer poor rates.

For this reason, we recommend using one of the money changers in the city. Their rates tend to be better than those offered inside the casino.

We recommend these three:

• The basement level (B1) of Lucky Plaza on Orchard Road, the main shopping street in the city center
• The Mustafa money changer at Mustafa Centre in Little India
• The money changers on level 1 of People’s Park Centre in Chinatown

Cashing In Your Winnings: How to Convert Chips and Tickets to Cash

When you finish playing, you can cash in the chips you used at table games and redeem the tickets issued by electronic gaming machines.

Which counter or machine handles this can vary with the type of game and how each resort operates. If you are unsure, the most reliable approach is to follow the signs on site or ask the staff.

The technical standards of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Singapore (GRA) define tickets from TITO (ticket-in, ticket-out) machines as tickets that can be redeemed for cash or inserted into another compatible machine.

In other words, electronic games may use ticket-based payouts, but you cannot assume that every machine pays out in exactly the same way. Check the on-screen information and the signs before you play.

Frequently Asked Questions About Singapore’s Casinos

Can I use a credit card at Singapore’s casinos?

Yes. At Singapore’s casinos, you can use a credit card to get cash from the cashier. We do not recommend it, though, because cash advances carry a fee. The fee rate varies by resort and over time, so check it at the cashier.

If you can, the best value is to go into the city and exchange money at a private money changer. If that is too much trouble, the money changers at Singapore Changi Airport are the next best option.

What are the opening hours of Singapore’s casinos?

As a rule, Singapore’s casinos are open 24 hours a day, so you can play baccarat, roulette, blackjack and other casino games at any time.

Not every table is open at all hours, however, and high-limit tables may be closed at certain times of day. If the table you want to play at is not open, ask the staff.

Can children go into a casino in Singapore?

No. Visitors under 21 are not allowed into Singapore’s casinos. This is a casino entry requirement, and it applies even when a child is accompanied by a parent or guardian.

If you are traveling with children, use a supervised kids’ club or similar childcare facility before you go to the casino, and never leave them alone in your room. For a couple traveling with children, one option is for one parent to stay with the children while the other plays at the casino.

Summary: You Do Not Need to Gamble to Enjoy Singapore’s Integrated Resorts

Since its integrated resorts opened in 2010, Singapore has drawn visitors from around the world, from casino enthusiasts to ordinary tourists. Visitor numbers to Singapore have grown significantly since the resorts opened.

The resorts are built for players who come for the casino, but they also offer a wide range of other attractions.

Between them, they have a large theme park, a rooftop pool, fine-dining restaurants, duty-free shops, an aquarium, shopping malls, movie theaters and convention centers. Even visitors with no interest in the casino can enjoy them as resort destinations.