The head of the Philippine casino regulator reportedly said in an online forum that three integrated resorts (IRs) in Manila had “started” online play for table games and slots.
The comments of Andrea Domingo (pictured in a file photo), the boss of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (Pagcor), reported by the Philippine Star newspaper, didn’t clarify if those games were purely digital or whether live streaming of live-dealer table games was involved, or whether such play was available only to domestic players or to overseas ones.
But it did directly quote her as saying Solaire Resort and Casino, run by Bloomberry Resorts Corp; Resorts World Manila, run by Travellers International Hotel Group Ltd; and Okada Manila, run by a unit of Japan’s Universal Entertainment Corp, were all running “online table games and slot machines”.
Japanese gaming conglomerate Universal Entertainment Corp says adding guest rooms at its Okada Manila casino resort in the Philippine capital is its “highest priority” for that venue. That is according to the English version of Universal Entertainment’s annual report for 2020, made available on the company’s website on Wednesday.
“Currently, adding… guest rooms is the highest priority of Okada Manila,” the document stated.
It also said there were plans for “expansion of the gaming area, including the addition of a casino exclusively for VIP guests,” and for “opening more restaurants, and enlarging the shopping mall in order to attract an even larger number of guests”.
State-run Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (Pagcor) reported net income of approximately PHP152.6 million (US$3.2 million) for the first three months of 2021. It compared with net income of around PHP777.4 million in the prior-year period.
The body saw its revenue from gaming operations decline sharply during the period, as many casinos in the Philippines have remained closed or have been operating with limitations, as part of efforts to stem the further spread of the Covid-19 pandemic in the country.
Pagcor’s total revenue from gaming operations for the first three months of 2021 decreased by 51.4 percent year-on-year to just above PHP8.36 billion, compared to approximately PHP17.22 billion in the first quarter of 2020.
Universal Entertainment’s subsidiary Tiger Resort, Leisure and Entertainment Inc operates the Okada Manila casino resort (pictured).
Universal Entertainment said in a filing on Monday to Jasdaq that Tiger Resort had received on 19 April a letter from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (Pagcor) approving the firm to enter into online gaming. Universal attached the regulator’s letter to its filing.
“The system is scheduled to go into operation after clearing various conditions, such as confirmation of compliance with casino regulations and test simulations, including proper collection of casino licence fees and anti-money laundering [regulations],” said Universal Entertainment.
The company added that Okada Manila was “the first among the four integrated resorts comprising Entertainment City in Metro Manila” to receive such authorisation.
Okada Manila operator approved for Philippines online gaming license
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Philippines gaming regulator PAGCOR has approved Tiger Resort, Leisure & Entertainment, Inc (TRLEI) to conduct online gaming operations out of its integrated resort Okada Manila.
According to a filing by parent company Universal Entertainment Corp, TRLEI has received a letter from PAGCOR dated 19 April “approving entry into online gaming for table games and electric gaming machines as the first among the four integrated resorts comprising Entertainment City in Metro Manila.”
Universal added it plans to launch online operations as soon as it completes test simulations and clears all necessary conditions, including confirmation of compliance with casino and AML regulations and payment of license fees.