• Subscribe
  • Magazines
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Thursday 18 September 2025
  • zh-hant 中文
  • ja 日本語
  • en English
IAG
Advertisement
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • 中文
No Result
View All Result
IAG
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • 中文
No Result
View All Result
IAG
No Result
View All Result

VIDEO: Universal accuses PAGCOR of “graft and corruption” for siding with Kazuo Okada group in battle for Okada Manila

Ben Blaschke by Ben Blaschke
Sun 5 Jun 2022 at 15:31
VIDEO: Universal accuses PAGCOR of “graft and corruption” for siding with Kazuo Okada group in battle for Okada Manila
145
SHARES
3.6k
VIEWS
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Japan’s Universal Entertainment Corp (UEC), the parent company of Okada Manila operator Tiger Resort, Leisure and Entertainment Inc (TRLEI), has accused Philippines gaming regulator PAGCOR of an “act of graft and corruption” for taking the side of gaming magnate Kazuo Okada in a corporate dispute over control of the integrated resort in Manila’s entertainment city.

It has also released new video footage which appears to show TRLEI staff being forcibly removed during a takeover of Okada Manila by representatives of Kazuo Okada last Tuesday – footage it says contradicts claims made by PAGCOR President Alfredo Lim that the takeover was “smooth”.

New video which appears to show Mr Hajime Tokuda, a director of Universal Entertainment, at Okada Manila crying out, “itai, itai, itai” (痛い痛い痛い, Japanese for “it hurts, it hurts, it hurts”) and “pain, pain, pain” in English.

As reported by Inside Asian Gaming, the forced takeover – which reportedly saw the Kazuo Okada group accompanied by around 50 private guards, police officers of Paranaque City Police and a Sheriff of the Regional Trial Court of Paranaque City – came after the Supreme Court of the Philippines recently issued a Status Quo Ante Order (SQAO) to TRLEI ordering restoration of the composition of the board of directors of TRLEI to its 2017 line-up, before the dispute that saw Kazuo Okada removed from the UEC board.

PAGCOR has since confirmed it was also present at the time, having assigned a monitoring team to witness the incident “with the purpose of protecting the interests of PAGCOR and the Government, and to ensure that operations are not disrupted and the welfare of the playing patrons is ensured.”

The regulator added that it was “duty bound to observe due process and comply with the issuances and directives of the Supreme Court,” which UEC said has included PAGCOR agreeing to the Kazuo Okada group’s request to deny UEC access to revenues generated by TRLEI through Okada Manila and to recognize group member Dindo A Espeleta as TRLEI’s new representative.

However, in a statement sent to IAG on Friday evening, UEC said it vehemently denounces the decision of PAGCOR to “blatantly take the side of the usurper Kazuo Okada in the ongoing intra-corporate dispute.”

“On 22 May 2022, PAGCOR and the Kazuo Group held a meeting, electing Espeleta as TRLEI’s supposed representative to PAGCOR,” UEC said. “[PAGCOR’s] bias towards the Kazuo Group manifested heavily during the flagrantly violent takeover of Okada Manila by the Kazuo Group.

“PAGCOR’s President and Chief Operating Officer Mr Alfredo Lim was quoted as saying that the takeover was peaceful and orderly — this despite the viral videos showing the complete opposite.

“Furthermore, the Kazuo Group claimed that PAGCOR recognizes his sham board of directors.

“Based on its mandate, PAGCOR, a government-owned or controlled corporation (GOCC), is only mandated by Presidential Decree No. 1869 to ‘regulate, operate, authorize and license games of chance, games of cards and games of numbers, particularly casino gaming in the Philippines.’ It is not authorized by law to adjudicate intra-corporate disputes.

“Moreover, PAGCOR is not permitted to exercise its regulatory powers by favoring a party in an intra-corporate dispute, a matter well within the jurisdiction of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

“Thus, it is a blatant disregard of the parties’ legal rights that PAGCOR has shed its neutrality in this intra-corporate dispute by openly recognizing the sham board without any legal and factual basis.”

UEC said this “manifest bias is an act of graft and corruption under Republic Act [No.] 3019,” and pointed to Section 3 of the Act, which states, “The following shall constitute corrupt practices of any public officer and are hereby declared to be unlawful … Causing any undue injury to any party, including the Government, or giving any private party any unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of his official administrative or judicial functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence.”

UEC also reiterated its stance that only the shareholders of its Hong Kong-registered subsidiary Tiger Resort Asia Ltd (TRAL) – which owns 99.9% of TRLEI – are entitled to elect TRLEI’s Board of Directors, and that even if the SQAO is enforced, the newly-installed Board is not the same Board that existed in 2017.

TRLEI counsel Atty. Estrella Elamparo had alluded to this on Wednesday, the day following the physical takeover, when she noted that in 2017 Kazuo Okada owned only one share in TRLEI, a company with some 5 billion ordinary shares on issue, and even that single share was removed from him later that year.

“PAGCOR is well aware of these facts and yet it has acted with obvious bias in favor of the Kazuo Group,” UEC said in the Friday evening statement.

“We urge PAGCOR to adopt a neutral stance in the intra-corporate dispute and be more mindful of its mandate as a GOCC.

“The public can rest assured that UEC, TRAL and the legitimate Board members of TRLEI will not relent in exhausting all legal remedies to right the wrong that has recently been committed against the company and protect the interests of all stakeholders.”

RelatedPosts

Interview with Newport World Resorts’ Nilo Thaddeus Rodriguez

Interview with Newport World Resorts’ Nilo Thaddeus Rodriguez

Wed 17 Sep 2025 at 19:04
Publication of record

Melco ordered to pay total US$13,700 to City of Dreams Manila workers let go during COVID

Wed 17 Sep 2025 at 17:03
PAGCOR executive says technology advancements aiding rise in illegal online gaming operators

PAGCOR executive says technology advancements aiding rise in illegal online gaming operators

Mon 15 Sep 2025 at 22:25
Philippines’ maiden PIGO platform generates GGR of US$2.3 million in first six months of operation

DigiPlus said to be eying acquisition of land-based casino pending online gaming regs

Mon 15 Sep 2025 at 21:59
Load More
Tags: corruptionKazuo OkadaOkada ManilaPAGCORPhilippinesTiger ResortUniversal Entertainment CorpVideo
Share58Share10
Ben Blaschke

Ben Blaschke

A former sports journalist in Sydney, Australia, Ben has been Managing Editor of Inside Asian Gaming since early 2016. He played a leading role in developing and launching IAG Breakfast Briefing in April 2017 and oversees as well as being a key contributor to all of IAG’s editorial pursuits.

Current Issue

Editorial – Flipping the script

Editorial – Flipping the script

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 12:30

This month represents an important milestone for Inside Asian Gaming as we launch IAG EXPO – an expansion of the...

Asia market roundup

Asia market roundup

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 12:26

Inside Asian Gaming takes a deep dive into the state of Asia-Pacific’s key gaming markets: who’s hot, who’s not and...

Rewriting the rules

Rewriting the rules

by Newsdesk
Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 11:43

IAG EXPO, taking place at Newport World Resorts from 8 to 10 September, is not your usual trade show. IAG...

Test of character

Test of character

by Newsdesk
Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 11:28

Since its establishment in 1989, Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) has developed into the world’s most trusted name when it comes...

Evolution Asia
Evolution Asia
Aristocrat
GLI
Nustar
SABA
Mindslot
Solaire
Hann
Tecnet
NWR
NWR

Related Posts

10 Years Ago – Reimagining Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan cabinet approves budget proposal to increase betting levy, double casino entry for locals

by Newsdesk
Thu 18 Sep 2025 at 02:27

The Sri Lankan cabinet has approved a proposal in the country’s 2025 budget that will see the betting levy increased and casino entry fee for locals doubled. According to a report by local business media outlet Economy Next, Cabinet Spokesman...

CDC Gaming announces reimagined Day Zero Party including “10 Women Rising in Gaming” presentation at Resorts World Las Vegas’ Allē Lounge on 66, on 5 October 2025, the Sunday prior to G2E

CDC Gaming announces reimagined Day Zero Party including “10 Women Rising in Gaming” presentation at Resorts World Las Vegas’ Allē Lounge on 66, on 5 October 2025, the Sunday prior to G2E

by Newsdesk
Thu 18 Sep 2025 at 02:08

CDC Gaming, the premier source of news, commentary and analysis for the gaming industry in the Americas and sister company to Inside Asian Gaming, has announced a revamped, reimagined and refreshed Day Zero Party ahead of this year’s Global Gaming...

Wynn says UAE development contribution to total around US$900 million as Thailand opportunity looms large

Cryptocurrency payments, smart table rollout across all games among technology innovations being planned at Wynn Al Marjan Island

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 18 Sep 2025 at 02:01

Wynn Al Marjan Island is looking to open with smart gaming tables installed across all or most of its gaming areas and payment options that include cryptocurrencies, the company has revealed. David Patent, Executive Vice President, Gaming Operations at Wynn’s...

Interview with Newport World Resorts’ Nilo Thaddeus Rodriguez

Interview with Newport World Resorts’ Nilo Thaddeus Rodriguez

by Newsdesk
Wed 17 Sep 2025 at 19:04

IAG sat down with Nilo Thaddeus Rodriguez – the President and CEO of Newport World Resorts – to discuss the property’s recent market share gains and what new features and attractions we can expect to see in the coming months.

Your browser does not support the video tag.


IAG

© 2005-2025
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • NEWSFEED
  • MAG ARTICLES
  • VIDEO
  • OPINION
  • TAGS
  • REGIONAL
  • EVENTS
  • CONSULTING
  • CONTRIBUTORS
  • MAGAZINES
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • ADVERTISE
  • 中文

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • 中文
  • Subscribe
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • Magazines
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • About
  • Home for G2E Asia

© 2005-2025
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • 中文
  • English