MANILA has been put on the radar of international gamers after it was recommended by a United Kingdom-based sports-betting and tipster community among “the hottest casino destinations” this year.
In its Global Casino Index of 2024, OBLG.com research ranked Manila in sixth place with a score of 6.68 index points out of 10. Manila, which has 48.21 average table games per casino, showed up in 94,200 annual casino searches from May 2023 to April 2024. To determine a destination’s rank on the index, OBLG also took into consideration the number of casinos per 1,000 people; the average number of restaurants per casino; and the average daily rate of local Airbnb rentals.
Topping the Global Casino Index published on May 28 is Macau, with a score of 9.32 points; followed by Philadephia (7.24); Las Vegas (7.2); Singapore (6.84); and Calgary (6.72). Others on the list of top casino destinations in the world are: New Orleans, with an index score of 6.6 points; followed by Vienna (6.28); Brisbane (6.16); Melbourne (6.08).
OLBG noted that Google searches for “casinos near me” increased by 50 percent last year, globally, while in the UK, the searches grew by 76.68 percent. OLBG is the flagship of Invendium Ltd., which operates some of Europe’s leading sports-betting sites. OLBG, which claims to have a membership of 50,000 and “millions of visits daily,” provides a platform for betting tips and strategies, and is among the most popular sports-betting sites in Europe. Aside from sports-betting tips, it also publishes betting odds for politician-candidates, Grammy winners, The Great British Bake-Off, among others.
Affordable city
OLBG also determined Manila among the most affordable destinations for gamers with an average Airbnb daily rate of £37.21 (or US$46.95), ranking in second, after Bogota in Colombia with an average Airbnb daily rate of £35.19 ($46.95).
“Manila, the capital of the Philippines, has the second most affordable Airbnbs in our study….With 14 casinos in the city, it is a fantastic destination for visitors to enjoy a night at the casino after soaking up the city’s unique Spanish-influenced culture,” said the site.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) has projected gross gaming revenues (GGR) in the country to reach P336 billion in 2024, a 17.8-percent increase from the P285.27 billion recorded last year. The lift will likely come from the increasing share of electronic games (E-Games) to the gaming industry.
In a recent news statement, Pagcor reported total GGR in the country reached P81.7 billion in the first three months of the year, 18.54-percent higher from the P68.92 billion in the same period in 2023, with licensed casinos accounting for some 61 percent or P49.7 billion of the total. However, licensed casinos (-8.2 percent), Pagcor’s own casinos (-8.3 percent to P4.7 billion), and bingo operations (-21.5 percent to P4.81 billion) all recorded lower gaming revenues in the period, year-on-year.
Surge in E-Games revenue
ONLY the E-Games sector saw a surge in revenue in the first quarter this year to P22.5 billion, more than six times its P3.5-billion revenue in the same period last year. Pagcor Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco said: “The E-Games revenue performance continues to exceed our projections, and this reflects how gaming technology and the proliferation of mobile devices is influencing not only our daily lives but our entertainment choices as well.”
He added, “With the way technology is constantly shaping our lives and the way we do business, and even the way we choose to be entertained, the future of gaming clearly lies in this sector.”
Tengco said the state-run gaming agency has improved its regulatory policies and reduced fees, which also contributed to the strong performance of the E-Games sector.
Image credits: Pagcor
