Japan’s Universal Entertainment Corp, which controls the Okada Manila casino resort in the Philippines, says it is mindful of the opportunity to establish an integrated resort (IR) with casino in Japan, under a second-round application period launched by Japan’s national government.
Universal Entertainment stated however it “remains cautious” on a Japan IR pathway, adding that “no decisions on consortium participation or investment structure” have so far been made by the group.
A national-level Cabinet Order confirmed on March 10 that the application period for a second round of bids by local governments will run in a May 2027 to November 2027 window.
The remarks by Universal Entertainment were included in a written summary of a question-and-answer session that took place during the group’s latest annual general meeting of shareholders.
The firm also makes pachinko and pachislot equipment predominantly for its domestic market.
In its answers, Universal Entertainment also said the development of a gaming machine business for what it terms the group’s “third pillar”, represented a “strategic growth initiative with medium- to long-term upside”.
The step would allow the company to use its technology to explore fresh “market opportunities”.
In its annual report, Universal Entertainment said it possessed know-how acquired over the years in terms of “entertainment machine technology”, as well as “service industry know-how… cultivated through the management of the world’s top integrated resorts”.
“By combining these unique strengths, during fiscal year 2026, we will launch a new business that will become the [group’s] third pillar,” the Japanese conglomerate noted in its annual report.
It added: “By doing so, we will build a diversified growth portfolio that does not depend on any particular market.”
Regarding the Okada Manila complex in the Philippines, the parent said the group would continue “prioritising service quality and staff training” in that market.
“We believe customer satisfaction improvement is key to earnings recovery,” Universal Entertainment stated.
For full-year 2025, gross gaming revenue (GGR) at Okada Manila stood at PHP27.81 billion (US$463.6 million), down 20.1 percent from the previous year. Adjusted segmental earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) last year stood at PHP4.27 billion, a decline of 44.0 percent from 2024.
