Waterfront to build casino in Pagcor Entertainment City

Gatchalian group-led Waterfront Philippines Inc. (WPI) is poised to become the fifth integrated casino operator in Pagcor Entertainment City Manila, the country’s version of Las Vegas gaming and entertainment strip.

The four other integrated resorts in the area are Bloomberry Resort Corp.’s Solaire Resort & Casino, Melco’s and Belle Corp.’s City of Dreams Manila, Okada Manila and Travellers International Hotel Group Inc.’s Westside City Resorts World

A Supreme Court ruling that favored WPI’s petition for mandamus against the state-controlled gaming regulator Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) had become final and executory, the company disclosed to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Friday.

Mandamus is a judicial writ issued as a command to an inferior court to perform a public or statutory duty.

In this case, WPI asked for mandamus in 2015 in relation to its application for a casino license at Entertainment City.

In February 2008, WPI filed an application for a gaming license, paid the fees and submitted all requirements

“However, Pagcor did not take any action on the matter, and no communication was even given by Pagcor, prompting the filing of the case,” the disclosure said.

In a decision in August 2017, the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) favored WPI and direc­ted Pagcor to issue a license to WPI and to approve the proposal for the Grand Waterfront Hotel and Casino. Pagcor did not raise an appeal within the 15-day reglementary period. The Court of Appeals upheld the RTC decision in 2018.

In February 2020, the Supreme Court denied the petition of Pagcor for certiorari, citing failure to sufficiently show any reversible error in the judgments of both the Manila RTC and the Court of Appeals.

In October 2020, WPI received notice from its legal counsels that the Supreme Court decision has become final and executory by being recorded in the book of entries and judgments.

—DORIS DUMLAO-ABADILLA