Over time, casino hotels have gone through major changes. Gone are the days when casino hotels were simply that, luxurious gaming hubs with lodging attached to them.
In recent years, casino hotels have turned into sprawling multi-faceted ventures, providing business, leisure, and entertainment in one convenient location. In fact, the casino hotel market size is expected to grow a whopping 5.96% from 2024 to 2032.
Now referred to as integrated resorts, the leveled-up version of the casino hotel has also enhanced the gaming experience of many Filipino players and non-players alike.
What Is an Integrated Resort?
An integrated resort (IR) is a major property that combines gaming and non-gaming facilities in one expansive venue. IRs include a hotel with a casino, as well as avenues to host entertainment shows and conventions, luxury retail stores, fine dining options, and in some cases, even theme parks.
Initially and largely a Singaporean term, the earliest IR licenses were given to Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa which both began operations in early 2010. By 2013, both Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa had become the most profitable casinos in the world.
Since then, the term “integrated resort” has been adopted globally by the hospitality industry.
Integrated Resorts in the Philippines
In Asia, the Philippines ranks second to Macau in having the most number of IRs. Metro Manila alone houses four of the most popular IRs in the country, namely Newport World Resorts, City of Dreams Manila, Okada Manila, and Solaire Resorts and Casino.
Three of those IRs are located in Entertainment City, a gaming and entertainment complex developed by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) in the Manila Bay Area, while one (Newport World Resorts) sits in Newport City in Pasay.
Bloomberry Resorts Corporation, the operator of Solaire Resorts and Casino, has expanded to Quezon City with its newly-built Solaire Resort North. Suntrust Resort Holdings is planning on opening its main hotel and casino, Westside City Resorts World, within the vicinity of Entertainment City and Newport City by the first quarter of 2025.
It’s not only Luzon where IRs thrive. NUSTAR Resort and Casino in Kawit Point Cebu City partially opened in 2022, and its developer, Universal Hotels and Resorts, Inc. (UHRI) plans on expanding it even further to become the biggest hotel complex in Cebu.
Elevating the Filipino Gaming Experience
According to PAGCOR Assistant VP for Gaming Licensing and Development Department Ma Vina Claudette Oca, integrated resorts remain one of the biggest drivers of local tourism growth in the Philippines.
For IRs, PAGCOR regulations only allow them to allocate “7.5% of their facility’s total floor area to gaming,” while the rest of the floor area is allocated for non-gaming facilities such as hotel rooms, retail spaces, dining establishments, and other attractions.
A 7.5% space for gaming may sound small to some, but it is more than enough to attract Filipinos to step foot in integrated resorts to have the time of their lives. Casinos may be the main draws, but coupling them up with a collection of luxury lodging, entertainment, retail, convention, and recreational activities in one zone allows IRs to cater to a broad demographic.
For example, Newport World Resorts is home to the Newport Performing Arts Theater, one of the three major performing arts venues in Metro Manila. Simply referred to as Newport Theater, guests who come by to watch a musical or a live stage show can find themselves spending time at the casino before or after the performance, and vice versa.
The diversity of integrated resorts lets Filipino players enjoy the delights of gaming and take pleasure in the various entertainment options, amenities, and facilities available within reach. This builds a positive relationship between players and integrated resorts, generating not only revenue but also enhancing experience and forging satisfaction and loyalty.
Integrated resorts enhance the overall value of making the trip to a casino. While the casino is the heart of an integrated resort, the extensive range of services and experiences it offers have become a high point of attraction.
This results in longer stays, more visits, increased revenue, and a better tourism and gaming destination compared to venues with fewer facilities. With more being developed in the coming years, it’s clear that integrated resorts are here to stay.
