Solaire Resort North, described as the Philippines' newest integrated resort, opened on May 25, 2024, according to a sponsored report published in The Japan Times1. Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco spoke at the opening1.
Tengco set out the scale of investment PAGCOR expects behind new integrated resorts.
| Location | Minimum private investment |
|---|---|
| Metro Manila | over $1 billion1 |
| Clark economic zone | about $200 million1 |
| Elsewhere | about $300 million1 |
Integrated resorts, he said, include a hotel, minimum retail space, dining options, "staycation" facilities and event venues1.
On the regulator's own revenue, Tengco said:
"we will derive license fees amounting to 25% of their gross sales"
He also said PAGCOR had cut its share of gross gaming revenue from 52.5% to 35%, a change he said encourages compliance and investment1. On the pipeline, he said another integrated resort will launch in Metro Manila by 20251. On employment, he said there are currently about 150,000 direct employees1.
The report also covers PAGCOR's licensing channels, listing egaming_licensing@pagcor.ph for domestic operation of electronic games and ogld@pagcor.ph for internet gaming1. It notes that by 2030, Japan's first integrated resort is set to open in Osaka1.
What it means for players
Solaire Resort North adds a further large venue to the Metro Manila market, alongside the existing Solaire Resort in Entertainment City. The report does not set out Solaire Resort North's floor area, game mix, table minimums, entry requirements or opening hours, and none of that has been reported.
The licensing and tax changes Tengco describes concern operators rather than players directly. The reduction in PAGCOR's revenue share from 52.5% to 35% changes what operators retain, not what a player is charged at a table or machine. The report gives no detail on how the 25% license fee on gross sales is applied across different product types.
For anyone planning to gamble in the country, the general rules on who may enter Philippine casinos, what identification is required and which venues admit foreign visitors are covered in our guide to gambling in the Philippines, with broader regional context in casinos and integrated resorts in Asia. The report does not address entry rules at Solaire Resort North specifically.
The reference to Japan's first integrated resort opening in Osaka by 2030 is background on the wider regional market; our Japan guide covers the current position there.
What happens next
Tengco said another integrated resort will launch in Metro Manila by 20251. No operator, site or date for that project is named in the report.
Sources1 sources
- 0722p06.indd, info.japantimes.co.jp
