Filipino billionaire and future casino tycoon Manuel “Manny” Villar Jr. is pursuing his $1 billion casino project in southern Metro Manila despite failed talks with foreign investors.
The project was initially set to be a joint venture with South Korean junket operator Dowinn Group. However, those talks have fizzled out, and Villar Jr. is now going solo. Villar is no stranger to the domestic casino market in the Philippines as he is affiliated with Bloomberry Resorts, the parent company of Solaire Resort & Casino.
Despite Solaire reporting a sharp profit drop in the last quarter, Villar is confident in the industry’s long-term profitability. The new casino will be in the newly renovated Vista Mall Global South in Las Piñas. Villar told the media, “The structure is finished. It’s a mall that I converted. We own the land, we own the structure.” He said, “How do you lose money when it’s all finished?”
With the new casino going into his owned property that has already been converted with plans for a central casino, the project is expected to reach completion by mid-2025.
Gaming Revenue In The Philippines
While several casino regions exist in the Philippines, Manila is by far the most notable. Tourists enjoy luxury resorts and world-class gaming in the Vegas-like Entertainment City district. The Philippines is the second-largest gaming market in Asia after Macau, reporting $7.2 billion in gross gaming revenue for 2024.
With the addition of nearly $6 billion in new casino projects around the country, the Philippines is poised to become a top gaming destination hub in South Asia. The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, PAGCOR, regulates all brick-and-mortar and online casinos.
Online Casino Options for PH Players
Legal online casinos in the Philippines are available from local and offshore sites licensed by reputable gaming regulators. While the local casinos must obtain a Philippine Inland Gaming Operators (PIGO) license, offshore casinos have no PH oversight.
While it is suggested that PH players only gamble with licensed online casino sites, rogue operators also service the island nation. For many players, offshore sites offer more bonus funds, rewards, and currency options but often lack PHP (peso) support. However, depending on the site, most sites will accept a variety of digital assets, including Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Cardano, Shiba Inu, and more.