casino ships Because gambling is a strictly regulated activity in Singapore, casino players travel to nearby facilities in the Genting Highlands (in Malaysia) and Batam to pursue their activities. They may also sign up for ‘cruises to nowhere’— a term synonymous with casino cruises. Ferry operators such as Star Cruises open their onboard casinos once they leave Singapore waters, with the Friday- to- Sunday cruises typically packed with weekend gamblers. It is also common for casino players to make short, or day, trips to Batam’s Nongsa, where they go onboard the casino ferries.