Singapore threw open the doors of its second casino on Tuesday as part of a $US5.5 billion complex built by US gaming giant LasVegas Sands.

The Marina Bay Sands is the world’s second most expensive casino after MGM Mirage’s CityCenter in LasVegas and is expected to generate as much $US1 billion in annual profit.

Singapore gave the green light for casino gambling in 2005, setting off a flurry of construction that went ahead despite the city-state slipping into recession in 2008.

Its first casino, the $US4.4 billion Resorts World Sentosa (below), opened for business on February 14.

Tuesday’s opening included the casino and 963 out of 2,560 hotel rooms, a portion of the shopping mall, some restaurants, an exhibition centre and the events plaza.

The remaining hotel rooms and suites, a skypark and more shops will open on June 23, while a museum, theatres and other stores will start operations later in the year, the management said. Source: SMH