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In 2026, Resorts World Sentosa hopes to use that year as a proving ground to implement innovative concepts to position themselves as the destination for spending time with family and friends, compared to the upscale positioning of their competitor, Marina Bay Sands. The shift moves beyond quick attraction hops toward steady refreshes every few weeks to pull in both fresh faces and regulars. CEO Lee Shi Ruh, a Genting veteran of over three decades, took the helm at RWS last June and stepped into the parent company’s president and COO role this past August.
Renewal of Casino License
The renewal of the casino license for RWS in November 2024 was for a two-year term as opposed to the average of three years because of the low tourism statistics for the year 2023. Therefore, the year 2026 will be particularly important for RWS due to having its next review in 2026, along with a renewed license in February 2027 as part of regaining credibility. Since Marina Bay Sands is currently considered to be the leader of the market, RWS has developed the RWS 2.0 master plan, which proposes an SG$6.8 billion expansion project that will expand its floor area by 50%, mainly focusing on new developments that are not part of the gaming space.
Examples of new non-gaming developments include the opening of The Singapore Oceanarium, the addition of Minion Land at Universal Studios, and the dining and shopping options available at the lifestyle mall Weave. Lee invites back visitors to return for the new experience and first-timers to experience the new resort before the big launch in 2030.
Shaping Guest Stays and Events
Interim projects are placed on conceptual experimentation, launch events, and updating current assets as they launch countdown activities to the waterfront main feature. Once opened, it will offer two luxury hotels totaling over 700 rooms, a four-story retail and restaurant podium, a promenade, a mountain trail, and an 88-meter light feature. Lee’s aim is to shift the mindset of former gamblers, once in a lottery, to social happenings taking place frequently, incorporating gaming, food, beverages, family time, and socializing with friends. Recent additions like The Laurus, Singapore’s debut Luxury Collection all-suite hotel with Marriott, reinforce this holistic appeal.
No massive shutdowns loom ahead; instead, the strategy knits everything into a cohesive experience. Lee acknowledges rebuilding takes time, with results emerging gradually to sway visitors and investors alike.
The Financial Increase Shows Progress
In Q3 2025, RWS continues to show positive momentum with an increase in gaming revenue of 22% when compared to the same time last year, with revenue of SG$402.96 million, and this remains steady considering Q2 performance. RWS has also seen a positive increase in non-gaming revenues; they are up 7% from last year and 33% from Q2, resulting in a current total of SG$247.33 million in non-gaming revenues. This boosted overall group revenue by 16% from the previous year and 10% from Q2 to SG$649.79 million. Net profit after tax increased 19% from the previous year and 5% from Q2 to SG$94.61 million.
Upcoming Q4 numbers, due late February, should capture momentum from gaining traction on new features.
Leadership Bolsters Expansion Drive
To fuel RWS 2.0’s manpower demands in a tight labor pool, Lee brought on Chen Si, ex-CEO of South Korea’s INSPIRE Entertainment Resort, as COO last December. The senior team nears completion, with plans to scout more talent toward 2030 while tapping tech to optimize operations and staff potential. Genting Singapore eyes these moves to sustain the repositioning momentum through testing phases and beyond.
Source: Asia Gaming Brief (AGB)
