PAGCOR to open casino in ANC site by year end

Thursday 21st of July 2016

State-run Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is set to open a casino in the Army Navy Club (ANC) complex in Manila by the year end, with operations to start in early 2017.

According to The Philippine Star, developer Oceanville Hotel and Spa Corp. plans to restore and develop the ANC location into a world-class heritage boutique-style hotel.

Oceanville subleased 6,500 square meters of the lot to casino developer Vanderwood Management Corp., which won a 15-year contract with PAGCOR for the lease of casino space.

Both the hotel and the casino, although separate entities, are in the same ANC site owned by the City of Manila.

Oceanville says the facility will have five-star accommodations, upscale dining, as well as wellness and fitness centers. The PAGCOR casino on the site will be an entirely separate operation, and will be fenced off.

However, Manila Mayor Erap Estrada has said he did not issue a permit to Vanderwood to operate the casino, and has since instructed city secretary and legal officer Edward Serapio to look into possible violations in the leasing of the site.

“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,” Estrada told Philstar.

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