With a winner announced for the Marina Bay Integrated Resort - Las Vegas Sands – analysts are now having a field day predicting which potential operator is likely to win the bid for the casino resort on Sentosa Island. The government is said to favour a more family-oriented entertainment facility for the second integrated resort, and some analysts are of the opinion that this will enhance the expected bid from Genting International.

Genting was not successful in its bid for Marina Bay and neither was Harrah’s Entertainment. There is some doubt whether Harrah’s will make a bid for Sentosa but Genting, in partnership with Universal, has announced it will attempt a second bite at a Singapore casino operation. Its project for Sentosa Island may be enhanced in the eyes of the Singapore Government since news of a possible Disney theme park just across the border in Johor, Malaysia was announced.

A Disney Park would provide competition for a Sentosa resort, but a Universal theme park could encourage tourists to visit both locations and would certainly provide the family-friendly attractions being sought for Singapore. Many analysts were proved wrong over the Marina Bay bidding, having thought that association with local state property developers such as CapitaLand would prove the trump card. It is anticipated that CapitaLand will pursue the licence for Sentosa with partner Kerzner International. The deadline for bids is 10 October, so which analysts have made the right predictions should be revealed before the end of this year. (E-05.30.06)

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