Integrated resorts and casinos continue to drive Philippine tourism growth while creating ripple effects across various industries. The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) confirmed this during a major tourism investment summit held over the weekend.
Ma. Vina Claudette Oca, PAGCOR Assistant Vice President for Gaming Licensing and Development, emphasized this point during a panel at the 1st Philippine Tourism and Hotel Investment Summit. The event took place at the New World Makati Hotel on June 21.
As one of the key panelists for the session titled “Navigating Challenges and Opportunities for Casino Hotels in the Philippines,” Oca explained that casinos form only a small part of what integrated resorts offer. In reality, these resorts operate as full-scale destinations. They provide visitors with a broad range of experiences beyond gaming.
Oca noted that PAGCOR actively requires all integrated resorts to focus heavily on non-gaming amenities. These include hotel accommodations, fine dining, retail stores, entertainment venues, and wellness facilities.
“In fact, they are only allowed to allocate 7.5% of their facility’s total floor area to gaming,” she said. “The rest of the floor area is allocated for non-gaming facilities such as hotel rooms, retail areas, dining, and other attractions.”
This deliberate mix of offerings helps diversify the country’s tourism portfolio. As a result, integrated resorts and casinos not only attract domestic and international travelers but also stimulate spending across multiple sectors.
In addition, Oca shared that integrated resorts currently employ over 20,000 Filipinos. This employment provides stable livelihood opportunities, especially in regions that benefit from casino-resort development.
Moreover, she explained that close to 80% of PAGCOR’s gaming revenues go directly to the government. These funds support vital socio-civic programs across the country, including education, infrastructure, and healthcare.
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco delivered the keynote address at the summit. Her presence underscored the tourism sector’s recognition of gaming-integrated resorts as key contributors to national development.
The Department of Tourism, through its attached agency—the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority—co-presented the summit. PAGCOR and the Tourism Promotions Board also joined as government agency sponsors.
Together, public and private sector stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to advancing sustainable tourism. They also highlighted the pivotal role integrated resorts and casinos play in shaping the Philippines’ global tourism appeal.
