Addressing multiple reports that Melco Resorts & Entertainment may expand its gaming presence in the Philippines, two partner firms say merely that the consortium is “always open to opportunities.”
According to GGRAsia, in a filing to the Philippine Stock Exchange, Premium Leisure Corp. wrote, “any expansion of City of Dreams Manila (is) merely exploratory at this time, and no definite plans have been made as of yet.”
Belle Corp. added its own clarification, noting, “Any matters regarding an application by Belle or its subsidiary Premium Leisure Corp. for a second license for an integrated resort with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. are still being explored, and there are no definite plans at this time.”
Melco, parent of the operating unit for the resort, has had no comment on the matter, but according to a report last week in the Philippine Star Premium Leisure Chairman Willy Ocier recently told stockholders, “The expansion of City of Dreams is being studied by our partners as well as ourselves”—this despite President Rodrigo Duterte’s stand against more casino development in the country.
PAGCOR chief Andrea Domingo is on record as believing Duterte should lift the ban on new casinos so the Philippines to further fill government coffers.
