Manila’s integrated casino resorts reported a 5.3% year-on-year decline in gross gaming revenue (GGR) for the first quarter of 2024, according to new figures released by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). Despite strong performance in previous quarters, the total GGR from these Entertainment City casinos reached PHP39.95 billion (approximately USD687 million), down from PHP42.17 billion recorded during the same period in 2023.
Even though the numbers dipped, Entertainment City casinos—home to some of the country’s most prominent gaming hubs—still accounted for the majority of nationwide casino revenue. They contributed roughly 79.8% of the total GGR generated by all PAGCOR-licensed casinos. Meanwhile, other PAGCOR-licensed commercial casinos in locations like Clark and Cebu saw mixed performance. Clark casinos, for example, reported GGR of PHP8.14 billion for Q1 2024, which marked a 5.6% increase year-on-year, while Cebu casinos saw a modest dip, generating PHP841 million compared to PHP883 million in the prior-year quarter.
Government-owned and operated venues under PAGCOR’s own Casino Filipino brand posted PHP4.62 billion in GGR, reflecting a 6.3% increase year-on-year. This growth helped offset the overall national slowdown to some degree. When all revenue sources are combined—including Entertainment City, Clark, Cebu, and Casino Filipino venues—total nationwide casino GGR stood at PHP53.5 billion for Q1 2024. That figure represents a modest 1.7% decline from the PHP54.45 billion reported a year earlier.
Notably, the data also showed that licensed casinos remain a major driver of the Philippines’ gaming sector. They collectively brought in PHP50.4 billion in Q1 2024—down slightly by 2.7% from PHP51.8 billion during the same period in 2023. Meanwhile, PAGCOR’s own operations, though smaller in scale, are seeing gradual recovery and increasing their market share.
This downturn in overall GGR comes at a time when the Philippine government continues to promote the country as a regional hub for gaming and tourism. As competition heats up both locally and globally, operators may need to innovate and re-strategize to maintain momentum in the coming quarters. Despite short-term declines, long-term prospects for the Manila gaming industry remain strong, with developments underway and renewed interest from international investors.
