As reported by: MarketWatch
All five groups that had previously expressed interest in Singapore's second casino resort, to be located on the island of Sentosa, have bought tender documents for the project, indicating there could be a considerable level of competition.

The five are the consortium of Kerzner International Ltd. and CapitaLand Ltd.; Harrah's International and Keppel Land Ltd.; Genting International PLC; U.S.-based Eighth Wonder and South Africa's Sun International Ltd.

According to people who were at the office of the Singapore Tourism Board where the tender documents were available, the last representative - that of Sun International - paid the required S$1,000 for a set of documents outlining the terms and conditions required to build and operate the Sentosa casino resort.

All five groups participated in a request for design concepts called by Singapore last year, but Eighth Wonder and Sun have kept a low profile since then, leading to doubts about their interest in the project.

According to media reports in South Africa, Sun plans to examine the tender details before deciding whether to proceed with a formal bid.

Singapore earlier Friday launched the bidding process for its proposed casino resort on Sentosa island, and set the price of the 49-hectare site at S$605 million (US$382.5 million).

The Sentosa casino resort, which will be Singapore's second after the one planned for Marina Bay, can have up to 343,000 square meters of gross floor area for commercial activity, plus an additional 60,000 square meters for amenities like outdoor shelters and landscaped areas.
The maximum area that can be used for a casino is 15,000 square meters, while the number of gaming machines allowed has been capped at 2,500.

Interested bidders are required to submit their bids by Oct. 10. The government is expected to announce its decision toward the end of 2006.
Article By: MarketWatch