Casino operator Genting Bhd today said it is keen to invest in proposed casinos in neighbouring Singapore and Thailand, which would intensify competition in Asia's lucrative gaming industry.

"Most, if not all, casino operators would be interested in Singapore's casino, including Genting," Lee Choong Yan, executive vice-president of Resorts World which is a 56 percent-owned unit of Genting, was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency

Lee noted that Thailand had also announced plans to build a casino but said both the Singapore and Thai governments have yet to furnish details.

"It is very much at the discussion stage. No significant details as yet. The respective governments have raised the idea but there is no formal invitation, as far as we are aware," he added.

Resorts World handles the group's gaming and resort-related operations.

Other casino companies that have expressed an interest in Singapore's proposed super-casino on its resort island of Sentosa are US-based Las Vegas Sands and MGM-Mirage.

New strategies

Lee said Genting's rivals in Asia's gaming business currently were casinos in Australia, Cambodia, Macau in Hong Kong and China but competition will intensify when new casinos are established closer to home.

"We will be affected because even Malaysians can choose to go to Thailand or Singapore. So, we will be monitoring the situation closely," he said, adding that the company would explore new strategies to deal with the potential competition.

Genting's casino is located in one of its several hotels sprawling on a hilltop resort in central Pahang state. It receives some 15 million visitors a year, of which some 20 percent are Singaporeans and about seven percent Thais, Lee said.

Genting is a key blue chip on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange and has since diversified into plantations, paper, oil and gas and power. The group also runs the world's fourth largest cruise line, Star Cruises, remaining faithful to its initial cash cow by offering casinos on board.

Genting shares fell RM0.60 to close Wednesday at RM14.90. - AFP