Singapore locals' casino visits fall 3.2% in 2025, third straight decline

The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Singapore recorded a 3.2% year‑on‑year decline in the number of Singapore citizens and permanent residents visiting the city‑state’s two casinos in 2025, the regulator said in its 2025–26 annual report. The tally of local visitors stood at about 91,000 in 2025, equal to 2.7% of Singapore’s adult population, and represents the third consecutive post‑Covid annual decline.

What the GRA numbers show about Singapore casino visits decline

The GRA presented visitor figures for citizens and permanent residents (SCPRs) alongside other regulatory metrics in its 2025–26 annual report. The number of SCPRs who entered the two integrated resorts fell from 94,000 in 2024 (2.8% of adults) to 91,000 in 2025 (2.7% of adults), a 3.2% year‑on‑year decrease. The report describes this as the third consecutive year of decline in the period since the Covid‑19 pandemic.

The city‑state has a casino duopoly made up of two operators and properties. Marina Bay Sands is run by a unit of Las Vegas Sands Corp, and Resorts World Sentosa is run by Genting Singapore Ltd. The GRA also reported that the number of annual casino entry‑levy permit holders remained roughly stable at about 6,700 in both 2024 and 2025.

How the local visitor trend fits historical and policy context

Local visitation numbers have been subject to policy changes and the pandemic. In 2018, SCPR visits numbered 127,000, falling to 107,000 in 2019 after the Singapore authorities raised casino entry levy fees in April 2019. The 24‑hour access fee for locals was increased from SGD100 (US$78.2) to SGD150, and the annual pass rose from SGD2,000 to SGD3,000. The annual number of local visitors then dropped to 79,000 in 2020 as Covid‑19 restrictions began, climbed to 96,000 in 2021 and to 104,000 in 2022, before the declines recorded in recent years.

The GRA describes the 2019 levy changes as part of Singapore’s policy of “minimising the social impact of problem gambling.” Those levy increases remain in place and are explicitly referenced in the regulator’s timeline and statistical commentary.

Regulator statements and crime indicators

GRA chairman Hoong Wee Teck commented on the local visitor statistics in the annual report. He wrote:

"These indicators, while only part of GRA’s broader efforts, reflect our sustained commitment to effective regulation, strong partnerships and the protection of the public interest."

The report also recorded that casino‑related crime “remained low” in Singapore in 2025. The GRA presented crime figures and enforcement summaries alongside the visitation data to underline the regulator’s assessment of public safety and compliance in the sector.

Licence renewals and regulatory assessments in 2025

The GRA noted the 2025 renewal of the casino licence for Marina Bay Sands for a three‑year term, the maximum permitted under the Casino Control Act, and stated that Singapore Pools — the city‑state’s sole legal lottery and sports betting operator — had its licence renewed at the same time. The licence for Resorts World Sentosa was renewed for a period of two years in November 2024.

GRA chief executive Daniel Tan framed those renewals as outcomes of the Authority’s compliance assessments. He wrote:

"At the heart of GRA’s work is our commitment to ensuring that gambling activities in Singapore are regulated in a firm, effective manner. During the year, GRA continued to uphold robust regulatory standards, culminating in the renewal of licences for gambling operators such as Marina Bay Sands and Singapore Pools."

Mr Tan added that the licences were renewed after the GRA completed “rigorous assessment” and determined that operators continued to meet high regulatory standards and statutory requirements.

What operators and stakeholders should note

The GRA’s figures make three points relevant to operators, policy makers and vendors: the local market segment represented a small share of overall adult population access in 2025 (2.7%), annual entry‑levy holders were stable at about 6,700, and the regulator continues to link licence renewal to regulatory performance and compliance. Those details are explicit in the annual report and will be relevant for operator compliance planning, community outreach and any vendor work on entry‑levy verification or responsible‑gambling tools.

For readers tracking regulation and market metrics, the report is also the GRA’s public statement on enforcement priorities and licence‑assessment outcomes; those outcomes included the multi‑year and short‑term renewals for the two integrated resort operators and the refreshed licence for Singapore Pools.

Where the data sits in the broader picture

The GRA’s visitor and levy statistics appear in a broader regulatory narrative that emphasises harm minimisation, licence‑holder obligations and public protection. The 2025 visitation decline continues a sequence that began after the 2019 levy increase and the Covid‑19 disruption. The regulator’s presentation links those visitation figures with crime statistics and licence renewal decisions rather than with operational or commercial commentary from the operators themselves.

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