The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in the Philippines has said that the country is losing out on billions of dollars of potential investment because of opposition to gaming expansion. Without naming the sources of opposition it is clear that the DTI was referring mainly to the influential Philippine Church, which is outspoken in its condemnation of gambling. Trade Secretary Peter B Favila commented in a recent interview that those opposing gambling should realise that a large part of investment would be in the demand for other industries created by casino entertainment complexes.

The Japanese company Aruze, which manufactures Pachislot and Pachinko machines for the Japanese market as well as gaming and amusement machines for overseas markets, owns a 24% stake in Wynn Resorts. With a stated ambition of becoming a global entertainment company, Aruze says the partnership with Wynn will allow it to broaden its knowledge of the casino market. On 21 August Aruze announced that it had acquired, through a land holding company established in the Philippines, approximately 30 hectares for its casino resort project in the Philippines.

The construction site adjoining Manila Bay is part of the Bagong Nayong Pilipino Manila Bay Tourism City and Aruze has also been granted a provisional licence by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (Pagcor) to operate a casino facility as part of the project. Following last month’s purchase of the US$300 million 30 hectare site the first Aruze casino resort is expected to open in early 2010 at a cost of around US$1 billion.

In December 2007 Aruze announced its business realignment and future business development plans. In April this year the company outlined its casino project for a 40 hectare site adjacent to the Tourism City with a 2,000-room casino hotel, aquarium, art museum, sports facilities and a London Eye style Ferris wheel. Construction is expected to begin in January under the full guidance of Wynn Resorts with its ‘rich knowledge and experience regarding hotel construction and operation, know-how concerning the creation of attractive facilities and superior personnel fully acquainted with casino resort operation’. (E-09.15.08)

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