The Philippine economy has largely held steady despite the country seemingly being in constant turmoil, even growing by 6.7% in 2017, according to CNN Philippines. This means that the country has kept in step with Asia’s fastest growing economies, and with the current administration’s Build, Build, Build program, more of the same is expected this year and beyond. Perhaps surprisingly, integrated resorts have become chief contributors to this growing economy, with GRR Asia reporting that the casino industry alone earned Php152.55 billion in 2017. This means an additional Php100 billion or so for the Philippine economy, which the government can use to subsidize its infrastructure and socio-civic projects. Much of the casino action in the country happens in Entertainment City, our version of the famous Sin City in Las Vegas. In fact, Rappler notes that over 50% of gaming revenue comes from Entertainment City. For the first 9 months of 2016, for example, the industry raked in a total of Php118 billion, with our own Strip accounting for 54% of those earnings. Again, the industry’s eye-popping yearly profits are testaments to how casino gaming is flourishing in the country. This boom in the business can be attributed to a host of factors, mainly the rise of the Filipino middle class, whose patronage of casinos have greatly expanded the clientele of the different integrated resorts here in the Philippines. Of course, VIP gamers—foreigners flown into the country by independent entrepreneurs or junket operators—still comprise of a majority of casino players, but the addition of a new market of gamers certainly helps. Another important factor that has contributed to the flourishing casino industry in the Philippines is the ban on online gaming. Physical casinos around the globe are losing their market share to the online gaming industry,...... Read more on Full Issue!