Singapore surges to all-time highs

Thanks to Marina Bay Sands (left) and Resorts World Sentosa, the city-state of Singapore posted record levels of tourism (13 million souls, a 13% increase) last year. While overall tourism-related revenues leapt 17%, entertainment spending — which of course includes gambling — was $4.4 billion, for an eye-popping 37% increase. In their eagerness to cash in, however, Las Vegas Sands and Genting Berhad have gotten a little careless. Both have been fined for waiving the $80 admission fee that Singaporean citizens are legally required to pay. Sands got slapped with a $204,000 fine while Genting will have to write Singapore a $104K check to cover its bad behavior.