In the Philippines and President Rodrigo Duterte (pictured) has reportedly responded to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic by extending the closure order for all casinos in metropolitan Manila until May 15.

According to a report from GGRAsia, the controversial leader initially instituted a month-long shutdown of all sportsbetting, electronic gaming, casino, bingo and poker establishments in the nation’s largest city on March 15 before later rolling this policy out nationwide.

Considered consultation:

GGRAsia reported that the latest Manila extension to this ‘community quarantine’ is set to impact the giant City of Dreams Manila, Okada Manila and Solaire Resort and Casino integrated casino resorts as well as the nearby Resorts World Manila complex and was taken following a meeting between 75-year-old Duterte and the country’s Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Additional areas:

A presidential spokesperson reportedly stated that the southern province of Cebu, which also features a number of casinos including the Casino Filipino Cebu from the state-run Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCor), is also ‘subject to enhanced community quarantine’ and could be joined by other regions should these experience a spike in the rate of coronavirus infections.

Operator compliance:

It was further reported that approximately 460 people have died in the Philippines as a result of coronavirus while a representative of the firm behind the 800-room Solaire Resort and Casino, Manila-listed Bloomberry Resorts Corporation, is said to have proclaimed that the venue will only be re-opened to guests ‘once the enhanced community quarantine is lifted’.

Reportedly stated the unnamed envoy…

“There are no exact dates and times yet. All our members will be notified once we are back in operations.”

For its part and the Tiger Resort Leisure and Entertainment Incorporated subsidiary of Japanese conglomerate Universal Entertainment Corporation reportedly proclaimed that the 993-room Okada Manila and its 284,283 sq ft casino are due to remain shuttered ‘until further notice’ so as to comply with the government ‘directive to help prevent the spread of coronavirus’.