Universal Entertainment bets on the Philippines

The Japanese conglomerate expects the market to grow this year and will upgrade and expand its Philippine offering.

Philippines.- The casino market in the Philippines continues to grow and Universal Entertainment Corp. plans to take advantage of it. The Japan-listed conglomerate expects the local industry to expand this year and has announced its plans to upgrade and expand Okada Manila’s complete offering.

The company said in its latest financial information that it will improve the venue’s casino, hotel, entertainment, food & beverage and several different aspects to try and get an edge over its competitors. Therefore, it expects to draw more tourism from all around Asia, which is why “adding more guest rooms is the highest priority of Okada Manila.”

Universal detailed that its investment plans involve the “expansion of the gaming area, including the addition of a casino exclusively for VIP guests, opening more restaurants and enlarging the shopping mall in order to attract an even larger number of guests.”

The resort, which is expected to be completed by December 2019, is located at the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation’s Entertainment City gaming zone. According to brokerage Morgan Stanley, Okada Manila’s share of Manila integrated resort GGR is expected to grow from 10 to 22 per cent in 2018.