This year, 2026, will be critical for Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) in Singapore as it works to boost visitation and regain the confidence of regulators and investors.
In 2024, the Singapore Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) cited the integrated resort for underperformance from 2021 to 2023, post-Covid. Officials questioned RWS’ ability to “develop, maintain and promote its integrated resort as a compelling tourist destination that meets prevailing market demand and industry standards”.
For the first time, the GRA renewed the IR’s licence on a provisional basis – for two years instead of three. The abbreviated term began almost a year ago, on 6 February, 2025.
CEO: Expansion adds ‘depth, variety, quality’
In response, the IR continues a US$5.3 billion expansion to recapture former patrons, add new ones and turn day-trippers into overnighters.
The project spans four pillars: entertainment, hospitality, lifestyle and “marine discovery”. Among other attractions, RWS has added a Minion Land theme park and Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Singapore as part of the IR. Last October, it introduced the all-suite Laurus hotel, with plans for another luxury hotel brand. Lifestyle is exemplified by an expansive new dining and retail district called Weave. The Singapore Oceanarium, one of the largest aquariums in the world, is unique in the market. Built on the site of the former SEA Aquarium, it is home to more than 40,000 marine animals.
“Travellers today expect depth, variety and quality within a single trip,” CEO Lee Shi Ruh told GGB Magazine. “Our goal is to create experiences that resonate deeply with our guests while delivering sustainable, long-term value for Singapore and for our shareholders.”
RWS 2.0 was “guided by data, scenario analysis and financial discipline”, added Lee, who is also president and COO of Genting Singapore. The multiyear project will expand the property by more than 164,000 square metres, growing the gross floor area by 50%.
More to do for a variety of patrons
RWS opened in 2010, one of two megaresorts in the republic along with Marina Bay Sands. MBS has been the consistent market leader. In the third quarter of 2025, the Las Vegas Sands property saw an 83% jump in adjusted EBITDA to $743 million. Revenue soared 56.3% to $1.44 billion year-on-year.
Genting Singapore posted more modest gains, thanks to higher VIP volumes and greater foot traffic. Revenue came to $473 million for the quarter, up 16% year-on-year. Adjusted EBITDA rose 36% to $162 million. The operator acknowledged the improvement, saying the revitalisation is “progressing well”.
The emphasis is on experiential activities for gaming and non-gaming patrons alike. “In the past, some guests came to gamble and then left straight away,” Lee told the Straits Times. “How do you bring gamers back? We want them to feel there is more to do – eat, drink, socialise and spend time with family and friends … with something new every two to three weeks.”
Regulators to reassess RWS this year
By 2030, when the expansion is complete, RWS “will present a distinctly renewed identity that embodies Singapore’s vision for exceptional tourism, imaginative experiences and continual innovation”, said Lee. “Our edge lies in the way we integrate leisure, culture, hospitality and public spaces into a single extraordinary destination, on a tropical island just a 10-minute drive from the city.
“There is truly no other place like it, and that is the identity we are shaping for the decade ahead.”
In a 2025 interview with CNBC, Lee promised RWS will “be ready” when regulators reevaluate its licence suitability this year, ahead of the February 2027 renewal.
Marina Bay Sands is also undergoing a significant expansion. LVS is investing $8 billion to add a fourth hotel tower, a 15,000-seat arena and new events space. The project is expected to be complete in summer 2029.
Marjorie Preston
Marjorie began her gaming career in 2007 and has focused on Asian gaming markets since 2020. Outside of work, she writes about travel and film and plays the drums.
Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore begins 2026 with an ambitious goal: to restore post-Covid tourism and win a new three-year licence.