As Southeast Asian countries accelerate the development of the gambling industry, industry veteran consultant Aydemir Yuksel points out in his latest column that Singapore remains the "gold standard" of the Asia-Pacific gambling industry. Whether it's regulatory systems, operational efficiency, or investment attractiveness, it leads other regional countries.
With over 30 years of experience and having worked at casinos such as Marina Bay Sands and The Venetian Macao, Yuksel analyzes that compared to Thailand, Vietnam, Korea, and the Philippines, which generally face policy bottlenecks and market uncertainties, Singapore maintains a leading position with a clear strategy and robust system.
He notes that although Thailand has huge market potential, it is hindered by political instability and prolonged legislative delays, making it difficult to advance gambling reforms; Vietnam wavers on its "local access" policy, directly leading to the operational stagnation of the Corona casino, while a high tax burden (over 35%) severely undermines investment confidence.
Regarding Korea, Yuksel bluntly states it has "first-class hardware, closed entry," as locals are essentially barred from entering, and large projects like Mohegan Inspire, despite their high-profile openings, ultimately face a resale fate, highlighting structural difficulties.
Although gambling revenues in the Philippines continue to rise, with infrastructure in Manila, Clark, and Cebu continuously expanding, Yuksel believes it still lacks the endorsement of "top-tier American brands," and Singapore's "reputation dividend" remains irreplaceable.
Yuksel boldly predicts that if Singapore issues two more globally attractive integrated resort licenses in the future, combined with permanent shows and high-end nightlife facilities, it could potentially reshape the entire Asia-Pacific gambling landscape.
He concludes, "Thailand lacks courage, Vietnam lacks stability, Korea lacks openness, the Philippines lacks iconic investors—only Singapore is ready, just waiting for the word 'we want to develop'."
While the new gambling map of Southeast Asia is yet to be defined, Singapore remains the steadfast "mountain-like" beacon of confidence.
