Sentosa Casino Blackjack Minimum Bet
It uses eight decks. Double down before and after splitting, as well as surrender, are permitted. The dealer hits soft 17. The game has a $10 minimum bet. Beware of some atrocious 6-5 games spread at Caesars Palace. These include Free Bet Blackjack with a 2.42% house edge and a game that only permits double down on 10 and 11 and not after. The list below shows the minimum bet it takes for you to find a 3:2 blackjack table so that you can get the best game for your bankroll. The minimum bets and rules listed are based on my observations when visiting Las Vegas casinos in December 2019. Minimum bets may increase during peak hours or due to a policy change. Spent about an hour playing slots and roulette. Large casino with heaps of baccarat tables, lots of 0 and double 0 roulette tables and a handful of blackjack/pontoon tables. Free soft drinks available and nice staff. Bet minimums are reasonably high and not aimed at casual gamers.
“Go big or go home” says the gambler seated beside you at the blackjack table. Everyone knows the odds in a casino are against the player, so you’re both probably trying different tricks to win.
Some, like counting cards in your mind, are legal. However, most of the other ways you can think of are probably against the law.
The casino claims to “a vast selection of the newest and most popular electronic gaming machines worldwide” which has landed it on the directory of best casinos in Singapore. Though the minimum bets for live games here depend on the table, they will always start from a minimum of S$25. Location: 10 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018956.
The Casino Control Act (CCA) contains most of the casino-related offences you could get fined or jailed for. You may also be charged under other laws such as the Penal Code or the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act (CDSCA).
What People have Gotten Caught for
8 not-so-lucky ways gamblers have tried to win more at casinos but got themselves arrested, fined or jailed instead are:
1. Sneaking in bets after the dealer reveals the result (also known as past-posting)
In July 2015, a 23-year old man tried to bet $500 after the dealer revealed the winning result of a Sic-Bo game at the Marina Bay Sands (MBS) Casino. He stood to win $25,000 if he was not caught.
However, the dealer caught the man and alerted the pit manager. The CCTV also recorded the past-posting.
He was sentenced to 4 weeks’ jail for cheating at play under the CCA.
2. Swapping cards
4 Turkish tourists won $6,075 while playing Three Card Poker in August 2015 by tricking the dealer at the Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) Casino.
One tourist distracted the dealer and another blocked the other patrons’ view so the remaining 2 conspirators could exchange cards under the table.
The dealer did not discover what they were doing. However, the RWS surveillance team picked up on their tricks on CCTV. The tourists were sentenced to between 12 weeks’ and 6 months’ jail for cheating at play.
3. Taking advantage of a system error to obtain more free credits
3 MBS loyalty programme members took advantage of a system glitch to obtain free play credits, which they used to win about $875,133 from electronic roulette machines.
Sentosa Casino Blackjack Minimum Betting
One of them was redeeming her loyalty Sands Bonus Dollars for free play credits when she discovered the glitch. Her redemptions were not recorded because of the glitch and she repeatedly used the glitch to obtain more free play credits.
Instead of informing MBS, she told the other 2 loyalty programme members how to do the same. Together, they obtained $1.029 million worth of free credits from the glitch. They either kept their winnings, transferred their winnings to others or converted them into gaming chips.
Their exploits were later discovered by MBS. They were charged under the CDSCA and sentenced to between 12 to 26 months’ jail. They also agreed to return the $875,133 to MBS.
4. Stealing a playing card machine to photograph the cards’ sequence
In May 2013, 13 Thai nationals stole a baccarat playing card machine from MBS. They crowded around the cabinet holding the card machines and brought it to their hotel room, where they laid out and photographed the cards in sequence. They then replaced the cards in sequence and put the playing card machine back in the cabinet.
The next day, they played baccarat at the same table as the stolen card machine and won about $1.372 million in 3 hours. Casino staff caught on their scheme after the Thai nationals’ actions were recorded on CCTV. They were sentenced to between 12.75 months and 17.25 months jail under the CCA.
5. Making under-the-table deals with the dealer to see the last card in the deck
A Singaporean befriended 3 RWS croupiers and colluded with them to cheat RWS of $12,915 between May and July 2015. While playing Three Card Poker, the dealers flashed the last card in the deck to the gambler in exchange for 20% of his winnings.
The scheme was exposed by CCTV footage which showed the 3 dealers showing the last card in the deck to the gambler.
Sentosa Casino Blackjack Minimum Bets
The gambler was jailed for 12 months. 2 of the dealers were sentenced to 4 and 8 months’ jail. The last dealer is on the run.
6. Making under-the-table deals with the dealer to get paid extra chips
2 Chinese students were jailed for 8 and 15 weeks respectively under the CCA for making under-the-table deals with an MBS baccarat dealer between April and May 2016.
The dealer would either overpay their winning bets or not take in the losing bets. At times, the dealer even paid out on losing bets. The dealer would also hand the students extra chips when they were going to convert the chips to cash.
Their scheme obtained them about $19,700. After the chips were converted to cash, they would meet in the MBS hotel toilets to split the money. The dealer was said to be the mastermind and jailed for 8 months and 12 weeks under the Penal Code and the CCA. The 3 of them also paid $20,275 back to MBS.
7. Convincing other players at the table they have lost
In December 2015, 4 men and 2 women from China were charged with cheating at play under the CCA. What they did was to convince other players at the MBS and RWS baccarat tables that these players had lost their bets. They then pocketed their victims’ chips.
They reportedly cheated victims of about $700 worth of chips. The 6 suspects were also believed to have cheated other casino patrons by pretending to help them place bets.
8. Using smartphones to record jackpot machines’ play patterns
A Czech national and 2 Russians won $108,995 from the jackpot machines (also known as slot machines) at MBS and RWS over 3 days in May 2016 by using their smartphones to film the jackpot machines’ play patterns.
They later uploaded the recordings to a server to predict the jackpot machines’ mass payouts. The predictions were sent back to the players’ smartphones to alert them of the mass payouts.
They were part of a Russian syndicate which paid players 10% of the winnings. All 3 were charged with cheating at play under the CCA. The Czech national was jailed for 22 months. The 2 Russians were sentenced to 45 and 30 months’ jail respectively.
The 45-month jail sentence was later reduced on appeal to 38 months after the courts introduced and applied new sentencing guidelines for the offence of cheating at play.
Other Casino Offences
Other illegal behaviour under the CCA include:
- Putting fake coins into a jackpot or slot machine
- Making fake chips or chip purchase vouchers
- Using any device to count or record the cards dealt
- Carrying, selling, or buying fake chips to use as real chips (and the use of such fake chips)
- Carrying or using tampered cards or dice
- Carrying or using anything which could interfere with the casino’s games
- Tricking the dealer to get more money
- Pretending to be casino staff
While the UK Supreme Court has held in a lawsuit against Genting Casinos that edge-sorting by a gambler himself will be considered cheating, it remains to be seen whether Singapore will take the same approach.
Casino Control Act Punishments
Depending on which CCA offence you have been suspected of committing, you can be arrested without a warrant and jailed for up to 7 years, fined up to $150,000, or both.
At the very least, the CCA empowers Singapore casinos to detain you until the police arrives if they suspect you cheated. We don’t imagine that’s an enjoyable way to spend a free day.
While Singapore isn’t as much of a gambling destination as Macau, the Lion City has two large casinos, Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa, as well as the cruise ship MV Leisure World, offering a good selection of table games and slot machines.
Marina Bay Sands, Singapore *laser show* © kainkalju
Singapore’s casinos are primarily aimed at foreign players, with a $100 SGD admission fee for both Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa. You’ll need to show your passport to get into the casinos without paying the local entry fee.
Gambling in Singapore is a fun experience, with a huge selection of games and minimum bets aimed at both casual players and high rollers in the city’s casinos. Both of the city’s casinos are open 24 hours a day and have luxurious hotel rooms and suites available for players.
All casinos in Singapore use Singapore dollars (SGD). Gambling is restricted to people aged 21 and above. Both of Singapore’s casinos are upmarket and have a smart dress code — singlets, shorts, beach clothing and any items that obscure facial features are prohibited.
Marina Bay Sands
Marina Bay Sands Casino © sackerman519
Location: 10 Bayfront Avenue. Marina Bay Sands is connected to Bayfront MRT station.
- Famous for its incredible rooftop SkyPark and swimming pool, Marina Bay Sands is Singapore’s newest casino. Aimed at wealthy international travellers, Marina Bay Sands offers a selection of table games and has luxurious, modern rooms and suites in its five-star hotel.
- There are more than 550 gaming tables and 2,300 slot machines in Marina Bay Sands, making it one of Southeast Asia’s largest casinos. Since there is an entrance fee for Singaporeans, you will need to show a foreign passport to enter the Marina Bay Sands casino for free.
- Aside from gaming, key attractions at Marina Bay Sands include the complex’s SkyPark, which has an incredible view of Singapore’s central business district, and Ce La Vi, a luxurious sky bar and restaurant that overlooks the city.
Table Games
- Marina Bay Sands offers a good selection of table games. Favourites like baccarat, blackjack and roulette are easy to find, although minimum bets are quite steep, making the casino ideal for players with a large budget but not so welcoming to casual players.
- Before you make your way to any of the tables, ask for a brochure from the information counter listing the location of each table game and the table’s minimum bet.
- In addition to the table games listed above, Marina Bay Sands offers the following games:
Pontoon
Craps
Sic Bo
Pai Gow
Three Pictures - The minimum table bet for blackjack in Marina Bay Sands is $25, with $50 and $100 minimum bet tables also available. Roulette is available from a $5 minimum bet. There is no Texas hold ‘em poker room at Marina Bay Sands.
- It’s important to check the rules for table games before playing, as rules for blackjack and other games can differ from Western casino rules.
Slot Machines
- Marina Bay Sands has more than 2,300 slot machines, offer a great deal of variety for players of all backgrounds and budgets. The lowest minimum bet is two cents per line, making the casino’s slot machines a fun, affordable choice for people that want to play on a limited budget.
Resorts World Sentosa
Resort World Sentosa © schristia
Location: 8 Sentosa Gateway, Sentosa Island. Resorts World Sentosa is accessible using the Sentosa Express from Singapore’s HarbourFront area.
- Resorts World Sentosa, the gigantic integrated resort on Sentosa island, boasts over 500 table games and 2,400 slot machines. Resorts World Sentosa is also the only casino in Singapore with a Texas hold ’em poker room.
- With six hotels and over 1,800 rooms, a Universal Studios theme park, an oceanarium, seven high-end restaurants, a massive selection of brand name boutiques and live shows like Voyage de la Vie, Resorts World Sentosa has a massive amount to offer guests.
- Since Resorts World Sentosa is so big, it has a hotel option for every price range. Three of the resort’s most popular hotels are listed below:
The Hard Rock Hotel is a modern five-star hotel with an outdoor swimming pool, fitness centre and Fender guitars available for guests to borrow.
Hotel Michael is a luxurious five-star hotel designed by American architect Michael Graves and themed after an art gallery.
Festive Hotel is a more affordable five-star hotel aimed at families with a large outdoor swimming pool and a great location next to the Festive Walk.
Table Games
- Table games available at Resorts World Sentosa include both commission and non-commission baccarat, blackjack, pai gow, pontoon and tai sai. The casino also has electronic roulette, rapid baccarat and sic bo tables.
- Minimum table bets start from $25 for blackjack, with $50 and $100 tables available. Baccarat is available from a $10 minimum bet. There are no-limit Texas hold ‘em poker tables located in the smoking section of the casino with blinds starting from $5/$10.
Slot Machines
- Resorts World Sentosa has more than 2,400 slot machines offer a variety of different games.
MV Leisure World
- Leisure World is a cruise ship anchored in international waters off the coast of the Indonesian island of Batam. Accessible by ferry from Indonesia, Leisure World’s casino is a popular choice for local residents that want to avoid the $100 entrance fees at Singapore’s two casinos.
- Ferries from Tanah Merah offer a round trip to the cruise ship for $43, including a buffet meal and access to the ship’s casino. Low minimum bets of just $2 per game make Leisure World a cheap alternative to the upmarket casinos in Singapore.
- Although the novelty of gambling on a cruise ship can be fun, there’s little of interest on Leisure World for international visitors that can afford the minimum bets at Marina Bay Sands or Resorts World Sentosa.