• About Us
  • The Team
  • Advertise with Us

The latest news on the gaming industry in Asia

() () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () ()
  • Home
  • Macau
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • Japan
  • Rest of Asia
  • World
  • Industry Talk
  • Trends & Tech
  • iGaming
  • follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • RSS Feed
    • LinkedIn

Any Philippine casino levy a mass market negative: MS

Jun 12, 2017 Newsdesk Latest News, Philippines, Top of the deck  


Any Philippine casino levy a mass market negative: MS

Analysts from investment banking group Morgan Stanley believe that a proposal for a casino entry fee in the Philippines would – if passed by lawmakers there – have a significant negative impact on mass-market gambling.

A bill was submitted recently by Representative Rodolfo Albano, a member of the Philippine House of Representatives, that sought to impose an entry fee of PHP3000 (US$61) in all casinos and other similar gaming establishments in the country.

Mr Albano said the bill aimed to address gambling addiction among the poorer groups in Philippine society. The perpetrator of June 2′s deadly attack on the Resorts World Manila casino venue in the Philippine capital – in which the police said at least 36 people died – was described by authorities as being a problem gambler, albeit apparently a middle class one.

Morgan Stanley analysts Alex Poon and Praveen Choudhary suggested in an update on Monday that an entry levy, if implemented, could hurt Philippine casino revenue because the entry fee “may deter grind mass and family customers”. “Grind mass” was a reference to the lower end of the mass market.

“Filipino gamblers view gambling more as an entertainment compared to Chinese gamblers in Macau,” the institution’s analysts said, adding they noted Philippine per-capita gross domestic product was 60 percent lower than that of China.

Nevertheless, they remained positive on the long-term development of the Philippine industry.

They pointed out that a similar entry levy bill was proposed in 2014, recommending a casino entry fee of PHP3,500. That bill had made no progress since then.

The analysts also suggested that, even if a levy were introduced, it would have limited impact on the VIP and premium mass segments, given that minimum bets at premium mass and VIP tables were generally PHP3,000 or higher.


  • tweet
Related articles
  • Macau due 3 new rounds of Covid tests, more than 850 cases
    Macau due 3 new rounds of Covid...

    Jul 04, 2022  

  • 5-casino Thai market ok says National Assembly committee
    5-casino Thai market ok says National...

    Jun 30, 2022  

More news
  • 500 in Grand Lisboa lockdown, Macau Covid cases top 1,160
    500 in Grand Lisboa lockdown, Macau...

    Jul 06, 2022  

  • Coughlan to exit as Wynn Macau Ltd president in February
    Coughlan to exit as Wynn Macau Ltd...

    Jul 06, 2022  


Latest News

500 in Grand Lisboa lockdown, Macau Covid cases top 1,160

500 in Grand Lisboa lockdown, Macau Covid cases top 1,160

Jul 06, 2022  

More than 500 people are still inside the Grand Lisboa casino hotel after the complex was locked down on Tuesday by the local authorities, said an official during a Wednesday afternoon briefing on...
Read More
Coughlan to exit as Wynn Macau Ltd president in February

Coughlan to exit as Wynn Macau Ltd president in February

Jul 06, 2022  

Fitch downgrades Crown, signs off on rating casino firm

Fitch downgrades Crown, signs off on rating casino firm

Jul 06, 2022  

Sign up to our FREE Newsletter

UB8V5.qr.16(Click here for more)

Pick of the Day

”As the Macau gaming revenue structure is now leaning heavily towards the mass business … once the border fully reopens, the recovery from mass should drive the sector to bounce more swiftly”

Vitaly Umansky, Louis Li and Shirley Yang

Analysts at Sanford C. Bernstein



Most Popular

  • Four Seasons Macao shops paused on Covid casesFour Seasons Macao shops paused on Covid cases July 4, 2022
  • Macau’s Grand Lisboa cordoned amid 13-case Covid clusterMacau’s Grand Lisboa cordoned amid 13-case Covid… July 5, 2022
  • Macau publishes amendment to public tender regulationMacau publishes amendment to public tender regulation July 5, 2022
  • GKL sees June casino sales up 34pct sequentiallyGKL sees June casino sales up 34pct sequentially July 4, 2022
  • Coughlan to exit as Wynn Macau Ltd president in FebruaryCoughlan to exit as Wynn Macau Ltd president in February July 6, 2022
Copyright 2014-2022 TEAM Publishing and Consultancy Ltd / All rights reserved
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us