Manila Casinos Ready to Reopen When Given Greenlight by President Rodrigo Duterte

Posted on: May 28, 2020, 02:39h. 

Last updated on: May 28, 2020, 03:04h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.

Casinos in the Philippines capital city of Manila are prepared to reopen their businesses once the federal government and President Rodrigo Duterte give them the go ahead.

Manila casinos Philippines coronavirus
Travelers arriving at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in the Philippines are scanned for their temperatures. Manila casinos will conduct similar entrance screenings once the resorts are allowed to restart their operations. (Image: Ezra Acayan/Getty)

The Philippines has four integrated resort (IR) casinos – Solaire Resort & Casino, City of Dreams Manila, Okada Manila, and Resorts World Manila. Solaire, CoD, and Okada are located in Entertainment City, Manila’s version of the Las Vegas Strip. RW is in the nearby Newport City neighborhood.

The casino properties have been closed on Duterte’s orders since March 16. The president has extended his directive that the gaming resorts remain shuttered through at least the middle of next month.

City of Dreams, owned by Melco Resorts, an IR operator with casinos in Macau and Cyprus, says its Manila complex is ready to welcome back guests once permitted. The casino said in a release this week that it will offer free COVID-19 testing for team members to help ensure employees and guests feel safe to return.

The well-being of our colleagues is our paramount concern, more so in these fragile times as we welcome them back to work. Doing the tests will help ensure not only their safety and good health, but also that of our guests,” said City of Dreams Manila COO Kevin Benning.

Safety Measures

Solaire, Resorts World, and Okada say they, too, are ready to reopen. And as is the case at casinos around the world opening their doors back up to gamblers, the typical health safety measures are being implemented at the Filipino resorts.

All four casinos floors will be held to reduced capacities, slot machines will be reconfigured to maintain social distancing, and the number of players at each table game will be reduced. Manila casinos will also require both workers and guests to wear face coverings.

Solaire says it will initially offer only about 20 percent of its total table game positions, and 30 percent of slot machines. Solaire will also prohibit people from standing behind those seated at tables and slots.

Takashi Oya, president of Okada, which recently laid off 1,000 workers due to the loss of revenue, revealed the casino will feature “foot traffic controls” that show where people should walk, and appropriate distancing in lines. Resorts World is putting “smart decontamination and temperature scan chambers” at its entry points, and will follow best practices from its hotel partners Marriott, Hilton, and Intercontinental.

Duterte Easing Restrictions

The president announced Thursday that beginning June 1, gatherings of up to 10 people will be permitted in Manila. Businesses and shops that can adhere to such a mandate can reopen.

The Philippines has 15,558 coronavirus cases, and 921 deaths. But the country experienced its highest one-day tally today with 539 new infections.

Duterte nonetheless said of the results, “For me, this does not look bad.”