Philippine casinos and iGaming operations will continue under suspension until mid-May by order of President Rodrigo Duterte.
According to Inside Asian Gaming, Duterte handed down the order on April 24, extending the lockdown until May 15 in an attempt to subdue the coronavirus outbreak.
The “enhanced community quarantine” will continue to apply to “high-risk” areas, including metro Manila, home of the Entertainment City casino zone. The integrated resorts there include Solaire Resort & Casino, a Bloomberry Resort property; Okada Manila, a Universal Entertainment property; City of Dreams Manila, run by a unit of Melco Resorts and Entertainment Ltd.; and Resorts World Manila, run by Travellers International Hotel Group Inc.
Cebu province, where a number of casino venues are located and several new ones are planned, is also “subject to enhanced community quarantine, subject to further evaluation,” reported GGRAsia.
According to the country’s Department of Health, as of April 26 the Philippines had 7,579 confirmed cases of Covid-19 infection and 501 deaths.
Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) are also suspended and may not resume operations for now, said presidential spokesperson Harry Roque. Andrea Domingo, head of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR), the country’s regulatory body, has asked for an exemption for POGOs in order to keep iGaming revenues flowing.
“They still can’t operate because these are considered amusement and leisure,” Roque said. “They are included in the negative list which also bars the reopening of schools, places of worship, industries and tourism.”
Roque warned that POGO workers caught violating quarantines could face up to a year in prison or fines of PHP10,000 to PHP1 million (US$197 to US$19,700). There are currently 60 licensed POGOs in the Philippines, serving iGaming customers overseas.
“We are all at risk, but do not increase the odds or chances of getting it,” Rodrigo said in his announcement of the extension. “Be patient.” He singled out Manila, home of nearly 14 million people, and said he’s prepared to impose martial law against those who violate his orders.
“I am now warning everybody and putting the armed forces and police on notice. I might declare martial law and there will be no turning back,” Rodrigo said.
Meanwhile, as reported in BusinessWorld, Senator Risa N. Hontiveros-Baraquel filed a resolution on April 28 seeking a ban on POGOs, based on reports that some operators having failed to pay their taxes. Baraquel said around 70,0000 Chinese nationals are illegally employed by these gaming companies, and also argued that the resumption of POGO activities would undermine efforts to fight the coronavirus.
The resumption of POGOs “would mean allowing the mobility of at least 120,000 POGO workers,” she said. “This would defeat all the efforts that Filipinos are undertaking to contain Covid-19.”
In related news, Bloomberry has confirmed that the group may record a loss this year due to the suspension. Chairman and CEO Enrique Razon, told the Philippine Star he does not plan to reopen Solaire until he can “test everyone.”
“Gaming would be only be at 20 percent of our usual capacity, and there would be physical distancing, wearing of masks will be mandatory,” he told said.
Last month Bloomberry said it would “broaden” its investment portfolio “in the interest of enhancing shareholder value.” The company will consider opportunities that include “hospitality and other non-gaming assets.”
