MGM Mirage, one of the leading North American casino operators announce a bid to build and operate the Marina Bay gambling resource in Singapore. Two more companies made the same bid together with MGM Mirage, Las Vegas Sands Corp. and Harrah%u2019s Entertainment Inc. Both MGM rivals made several announces, reveling aspects of their bids and involving third-party investors. MGM stayed quite all this time, which made the situation seem like MGM is no longer interested in Singapore, but will focus on Macau, where it has a business relation with Pansy Ho, the daughter of Stanley Ho, a casino mogul of Macau.

However, MGM Mirage has recently announced that it will proceed with its bid. According to Gordon Absher, a vice president for MGM public affairs, it is not the style of MGM Mirage to make a lot of noise, but it does not mean that is has given up.

MGM%u2019s bid is supported by CapitalLand Ltd., the biggest developer in Southeast Asia. Together with CapitalLand, MGM is planning to build one of the most expansive casino resorts in the world, with an estimated price of about 3 billion US dollars.

Recently, the fourth bidder has joined the competition. This bidder is Genting International PLC, a Malaysian company that has suddenly shifted its primary listing from Luxembourg to Singapore. Genting International has raised funds issuing new shares to support its intention to build and operate casinos in Singapore, Macau and other Asian countries.

Bids for the Marina Bay casino resort are accepted until March 2006, after which the Singapore government will select the winner and will announce it by the middle of the year.