Japan’s Universal Entertainment Corp has outlined plans to focus on growing the new online gaming platform it launched at its Philippines integrated resort, Okada Manila, last year after suffering significant declines in its traditional resort and pachinko businesses in the March 2025 quarter.
Universal revealed a 20.8% decline in group-wide sales to JPY27.3 billion (US$186 million) in Q1, with an operating loss of JPY2.51 billion (US$17.1 million) and a net loss attributable to owners of the parent of JPY7.56 billion (US$51.5 million) – reversing net income attributable to owners of the parent of JPY3.45 billion (US$23.5 million) a year earlier.
The drop-off was felt across the board, with net sales in the Amusement Equipment Business – referencing pachislot and pachinko – down 36.9% to JPY8.75 billion (US$59.6 million). Segment operating loss was JPY1.20 billion (US$8.2 million).
Okada Manila posted net sales of JPY18.4 billion (US$125 million), down 9.8% year-on-year, with the company citing lower visitation to the Philippines from South Korean and Chinese tourists and a general decline in the VIP gaming market. As reported by IAG, the ban on POGOs has been heavily felt by Manila’s integrated resorts as much of their VIP volumes were previously linked to POGO-related players.
Adjusted segment EBITDA at Okada Manila fell 23.6% in 1Q25 to JPY4.61 billion (US$31.4 million).
In response, Universal said it is recruiting and training people to strengthen its marketing capabilities in the gaming business with the goal of attracting more people living in areas other than Luzon Island, where Manila is located, as well as tourists from Japan, South Korea and other Southeast Asian countries.
It added, “While continuing to enhance our ongoing marketing initiatives, we will work to penetrate our new online gaming platform, which has begun operating in 2024, and conduct promotion through our membership program, Reward Circle.”
Integrated resorts across the Philippines have been busy launching their online, remote gaming platforms in recent months with a view to expanding their customer base and providing greater access to existing customers.
