The Philippine poker community has seen exponential growth in the last decade, as evidencedby the current bevy of tournaments and casinos that cater to this specific game. The popularity of the gamehas boomed so much, in fact, that the country has since attracted a large number of international poker players from all over the world. This is greatly helped by the Philippines’ favorable gambling laws, which has earned it a reputation for being a gambling mecca.
These laws haven’t just benefited brick-and-mortar casinos, but also online gambling destinations. Though nothing quite beats the sensory experience of playing in a live casino, playing poker online can be a viable alternative when you’d rather stay at home while still honing your skills. Fortunately, there are quite a number of online poker Philippines websites where you can play. If you’re curious to try this type of gambling out for yourself, check them here.
Assuming you do get the chance to drop by Manila, though, you would do yourself a disservice not to spend a few days in Entertainment City, an expansive development that is home to a number of the country’s best resort casinos. Read on to learn about some of our topic picks that you should definitely check out:
Solaire Resort and Casino
Formerly known as Solaire Manila, Solaire Resort and Casino was Entertainment City’s first-ever resort casino that opened in March 2013. Owned by Bloomberry Resorts Corporation, the complex currently covers 8.3 hectares of land and cost a total of $1.2 billion to build. It also holds the distinction of being the Manila Bay area’s tallest hotel, with a total height of 198 feet.
In terms of its gambling attractions, Solaire boasts an impressive 199,000 square feet gaming area, which houses over 360 gaming tables and a 1,620 slot machines. It is also home to the Poker King Club, a poker room that was opened in May 2015. Poker enthusiasts can play a number of poker variations, such as Caribbean Stud Poker, Lunar Poker, Texas Hold‘em, and Three-Card Poker.
City of Dreams Manila
Named after its sister resort in Macau, City of Dreams Manila held its grand launch in February 2015 and is the second complex to open in Entertainment City. This resort casino is made up of six hotel towers and 938 hotel rooms. This $1.3 billion complex is owned by Melco Resorts and Entertainment (Philippines) Corporation and sits on 6.2 hectares of land.
Gambling enthusiasts can place their bets at any of the resort’s 289 gaming tables, 176 electronic table games, and 1,620 slot machines. It also hosts amenities where players can engage in a game of Caribbean Stud Poker, Lunar Poker, and Three-Card Poker.
Okada Manila
Once known as Manila Bay Resorts, this re-branded resort casino was first opened to the public in December 2016. Owned and operated by Tiger Resort Leisure and Entertainment, the complex currently sits on 45 hectares of land and houses 993 hotel rooms spread across 15 floors. The complex’s centerpiece, The Fountain, is considered the country’s largest multicolor dancing fountain with over 700 water nozzles, more than 2,600 colored lights, and 23 speakers.
Around 284,283 square feet of the complex is allotted for its gaming areas, where nearly 500 table games and over 3,000 electronic gambling machines can be found. Poker players will also want to check out PokerStars LIVE Manila, a dedicated poker room that offers eight cash game tables and hosts a number of major tournaments throughout the year. Okada currently offers Three Card Poker, Pai Gow Poker, Let It Ride Poker, Lunar Poker, Texas Hold’em, and Progressive Texas Hold’em Poker.
These are just some of the best casinos to check out in Entertainment City. In addition to these, there are also a number of promising gaming options to visit in the next few years. One such resort casino in the making is Nayon Landing, which is being built by the Landing Resorts Philippines Development Corp. Another exciting development to watch out for is Westside City Resorts World, which is owned by Travellers International Hotels Group, the Genting group, and Megaworld Corporation. But until they’re set to open, we’re sure you’ll still get your poker fix at these top 3 casinos while you’re in Manila!
