Harrah's and its partner Keppel Land "have tied up with Taubman Asia and Gordon Group Holdings to conceptualise, design and develop the retail component of their bid" for the downtown Marina Bay project, they said in a statement.

"Together, we will create an interactive and vibrant shopping landscape that will weave together various components of the Marina Bay Integrated Resort and present a shopping experience that is unique to Singapore," Harrah's-Keppel Land said.

Gordon Group Holdings is the creator of The Pier at Caesars, which the company calls a high-end retail and "five-star dining" development in the US Atlantic City resort. It is also behind The Forum Shops retail development at Caesars Las Vegas.

Taubman Asia, based in Hong Kong, is the Asian subsidiary of US shopping mall operator Taubman Centers.

The race to win the first of two Singapore casino licences has narrowed to five groups. In addition to Harrah's-Keppel, they are Sands-City Developments Ltd; Malaysia's Genting International and Star Cruises; MGM Mirage and local developer CapitaLand; and Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd and Melco International.

They are to submit their proposals for the project by March next year with the casino expected to open in 2009.

Singapore in April lifted a four-decade ban on casinos despite strong domestic opposition and said the two gaming resorts, with a combined cost of S$5 billion (US$3 billion), would boost the tourism sector and draw more visitors.

Tourism earnings totalled $9.6 billion in 2004 from 8.3 million visitors. Singapore wants to raise arrivals to 17 million with receipts of $30 billion annually within a decade and the casinos are seen as a key to achieving the targets.

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