Philippines licensed casinos reported combined gross gaming revenues of Php19.20 billion (US$400.8 million) in the three months to 31 December 2020, representing a 27.7% sequential increase compared with Q3.
According to information published by gaming regulator PAGCOR, integrated resorts located within and near Manila’s Entertainment City precinct – namely Solaire, City of Dreams Manila, Okada Manila and Resorts World Manila – were the largest beneficiaries of eased COVID-19 restrictions with GGR up 30.4% to Php16.90 billion (US$352.8 million).
Q4 was the first full quarter of partial casino operations within the Philippines’ National Capital Region since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with casinos having been granted permission to open at 30% capacity in August. All casinos had been ordered shut from 15 March 2020.
There was slight improvement for casinos in Clark during 4Q20 with GGR up from Php1.89 billion (US$39.5 million) in Q3 to Php2.0 billion (US$41.8 million).
While the numbers for the quarter were improved, they were still down significantly on the fourth quarter of 2019 where licensed casinos reported GGR of Php47.70 billion (US$995.7 million) including Php40.17 billion (US$838.6 million) in Entertainment City. That leaves licensed casinos down 59.7% year-on-year in 4Q20 with Entertainment City casinos down 57.9% year-on-year.
PAGCOR-operated casinos reported a 79.3% year-on-year decline in GGR to Php2.44 billion (US$50.9 million), although the figure was 2.67 times higher than in Q3. Slot machine revenue was the primary contributor with GGR of Php1.29 billion (US$26.9 million), followed by table games at Php695.4 million (US$14.5 million) and junket revenue at Php436.3 million (US$9.1 million).
Total industry GGR, comprising licensed casinos, PAGCOR-operated casinos, bingo operations and electronic games, increased from Php17.66 billion (US$368.6 million) in Q3 to Php25.80 billion (US$538.5 million) in Q4.
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