Total gross gaming revenue from the Philippines’ licensed casinos climbed 18.4% year-on-year to Php88.36 billion (US$1.72 billion) in 2021, although it was still less than half the Php181.37 billion (US$3.52 billion) recorded pre-COVID in 2019.
Information from gaming regulator PAGCOR shows that Manila’s Entertainment City resorts, which includes Resorts World Manila – located alongside Ninoy Aquino International Airport – plus City of Dreams Manila, Okada Manila and Solaire recorded GGR of Php78.96 billion (US$1.53 billion) in 2021, up 20.1% from Php69.72 billion (US$1.35 billion) the previous year.
The final quarter of 2021 saw the Entertainment City IRs enjoy their best quarter since the first quarter of 2020 with GGR of Php23.81 billion (US$463 million).
Clark casinos recorded GGR of Php8.73 billion (US$170 million) in 2021, up from Php7.99 billion (US$155 million) a year earlier.
It was a different story for PAGCOR-operated casinos, which saw GGR fall 27.2% to Php8.19 billion (US$159 million) due to lengthy closures as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Other licensees contributed Php16.55 billion (US$322 million) in 2021, up from Php12.91 billion (US$251 million) in 2020 due in part to the addition of regulated e-sabong which added GGR of Php3.71 billion (US$72 million). “Other licensees” also includes Electronic Games and Bingo Operations.
According to PAGCOR, total industry GGR climbed 14.5% in 2021 to Php113.09 billion (US$2.20 billion).