It is not just punters who are making their way to Resorts World Sentosa. Seated a few rows behind the Leong sisters were four financial consultants - Shahrul Ismail, 27, his wife Azlina Amran, 30, and their colleagues Sharil Atan, 29, and Zainal Mohd, 29.

They were on their way to Universal Studios Singapore.

Later, when I checked if this was a trend, Peggy Ang, manager of Arahato travel agency in Malaysia, said demand from Malaysians for the theme park is "very good", with packages including a return coach ticket and entry typically costing about RM300 (S$129).

"This is a very new theme park, so everybody wants to go and see it. It is also very convenient to visit, instead of going all the way to places such as Tokyo and Los Angeles."

Shahrul later pronounced the trip "value for money", although its signature attraction, the Battlestar Galactica roller coaster, was still closed.

Alighting from the bus at Resorts World Singapore, I counted about 30 Malaysian coaches parked in the bus bay. There were also four kiosks representing about 10 coach companies and travel agencies selling bus tickets.

Unlike my new foreign friends who got into the casino for free, being Singaporean, I had to fork out a S$100 (RM233) entrance fee.

Inside, the gaming tables were packed. The frenetic scene was dominated by punters of the golden oldie variety, seemingly with plenty of silver at hand.

Malaysian accents were very much evident above the rattle of chips, the clatter of slot machines and the thin haze of cigarette smoke.

Also last week, I visited Marina Bay Sands on a weekday.

At the pick-up point in Danga Bay in Johor Baru, the bus I boarded had only eight passengers, all from Hong Kong and Indonesia. They were not frequenting the casino, but simply taking a ride to Marina Bay Sands to connect to other places in Singapore.

Azhan of Compass Coaches later said that the bus service is popular with business travellers, as Marina Bay Sands is near the Central Business District.

Only two coach companies were operating the kiosks at the bus bay waiting area. Plasma TV screens advertised four daily arrivals from Danga Bay and four departures from Marina Bay Sands.

There were not as many elderly gamers at Sands as at its Sentosa counterpart, though the tables were still packed. When asked if there were many Malaysians frequenting the casino, a money changer smiled sweetly and nodded her head vigorously.

But the Malaysians I spoke to did not seem overly impressed by the Marina Bay Sands casino. Hawker Chang Chow Hin, 61, and his wife were part of a tour group of 60 who were in town for the day to visit both integrated resorts.

"I prefer the casino at Genting, which is more comfortable and spacious. We live in Malaysia, so it is natural for us to go to the Malaysian casino," he said.

Mrs Chang, 61, added : "You have to show your passport every time you go in and out, which is very troublesome.."