70,000 square feet of gaming
Critics are taking on the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. for licensing a 6,500-square-meter (70,000-square-foot) gaming hall within sight of the U.S. Embassy in Manila and a nearby educational center for children.
According to the website Matchforecaster.com, PAGCOR’s approval of a five-star hotel and casino at Manila’s historic ANC Club has generated plenty of controversy and criticism, much of it on social media. Many believe the site is especially inappropriate and may even be illegally sited because it’s next door to the Museo Pambata, a children’s library and museum.
In 2014, Oceanville Hotel and Spa Corp. leased the club premises to build a luxury hotel with dining, fitness centers and a spa. Oceanville then subleased the 6,500-square-meter site to Vanderwood Management Corp., which signed a 15-year contract with the gaming regulator to develop a new casino on the premises.
But even though state law prohibits any gaming establishments or nightclubs from operating within 50 meters of a church, hospital or school, that statute does not expressly mention a museum, the website reported. Now a court in Manila must decide if the proposed casino will be at odds with the current law.
While PAGCOR has signed off on both the hotel and the casino, Manila Mayor Erap Estrada said he has not approved any casino permit. In a statement, Estrada said, “PAGCOR is not under us. We did not give them permit to operate a casino in the area. If there is a violation, we will not issue a permit.”
The mayor has sought advice from city Secretary Edward Serapio, who will check to see if there were any violations when the site was leased from PAGCOR.
