Pagcor to restore Resorts World gaming license

MANILA, Philippines - State regulator Philippine Gaming and Amusement Corp. (Pagcor) has indicated that it intends to lift the suspension of Resorts World’s casino gaming license soon.

Pagcor chair Andrea Domingo told lawmakers on Wednesday that Resorts World president Kingson Sian has verbally conveyed to her the integrated resort’s desire to have its casino license back so it could start gaming operations.

“We told them to formalize their request and we will issue a checklist of all the requirement for a secure and safe environment, which they will have to comply with first,” Domingo said.

She said after Resorts World’s compliance, the Pagcor board would discuss the lifting of the suspension of its casino license. The integrated resort has already resumed its hotel and mall operations.

Domingo said despite what happened at the hotel-casino-mall complex on June 2, Pagcor would have to consider allowing it to reopen.

She said they would have to consider the welfare of Resorts World’s 6,000 employees, the investments the company has made and the revenues the government is earning.

“They have over 6,000 people. They’re paying their salaries now, but the company cannot sustain that indefinitely. These employees may lose their jobs,” she said.

“Plus the fact that we may not be able to meet our commitment to the Governance Commission for Government-owned and controlled corporations of P57 billion in earnings this year, because Resorts World Manila contributes about P4 billion a year,” she added.

Domingo said Sian informed her that Resorts World would no longer use the second floor for its casino operations.

Lone gunman Jessie Carlos torched gaming tables and slot machines on that floor during the attack. Thirty-seven hotel guests and employees died due to suffocation. Carlos committed suicide.

Resorts World voluntarily suspended its gaming operations. Pagcor later formally issued a cease-and-desist order.

According to Resorts World officers, they have invested $1.3 billion for the hotel-casino-mall complex that is located across Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

They said the company is investing an additional $1.3 billion for another integrated resort at Pagcor’s Entertainment City in Parañaque, where three hotel-casinos are now operating.