Construction of Nayon Casino has been Sanctioned by PAGCOR

Landing International Development, one of the biggest names in the tourism and entertainment industry from Hong Kong, has been recently given the license to construct their $1.5 billion integrated resort and casino in the Philippines by PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation). The license has been granted in spite of the nationwide ban on IR called by the president of the country.

The chairman and executive director of Landing International Development recently said, “The momentous and symbolic occasion will mark the first step in the development of the integrated resort.” He also added, “The ceremony will celebrate a key milestone in the company’s history as it continues to strive toward becoming one of the global leaders in the tourism, leisure and entertainment industry.”

This new integrated resort will be the fifth casino which will be added to the Philippines’ Entertainment City. The Entertainment City is Philippines’ own version of a Las Vegas Strip which is a hotspot for casinos and integrated resorts. Landing International aims to begin the operations of its new casino by the year 2022, and it aims to begin construction in August this year.

Subsequent to the ban on IR issued by the country’s president Rodrigo Duterte, the in-charge of PAGCOR, Andrea Domingo, has strongly advised the Hong-Kong-based company to acquire a clearance for the project from the country’s president himself. She later said, “They have presented their project to the board last year and have formalized their application in March 2018. We informed them to secure clearance from the Office of the President, which they say they will comply.”

Despite the ban that has been called by the president, the country is observing an alarming growth of new casinos which are sanctioned by the CEZA (Cagayan Economic Zone Authority). The Chief Executive of CEZA has revealed the intentions of four major casino and IR players from Hong Kong, South Korea, Malaysia, and Japan to establish large-scale integrated resorts in the northern Philippines. This development has taken place despite the country’s lukewarm and shaky approach towards the gaming and entertainment industry. The Philippines, as a country, is all set to be one of the major players in the gambling industry from Asia. The recent growth of the gambling industry in the country and the proposals for further development projects indicates just that.