Dowinn Group, a significant junket operator in the Philippines, has experienced a complete operational collapse, according to multiple reliable Inside Asian Gaming sources. Moreover, at the time of writing this article, the Dowinn Casino website (www.dowinncasinos.com) was down.

Insiders familiar with the situation reveal that Dowinn Group has halted all activities at its casinos and VIP Clubs and withdrawn its management teams. Many of these managers are reported to have left the country, primarily returning to South Korea. According to sources, there has been a rush on Dowinn accounts, but liquidity issues have left numerous locations without available funds.

Previously, Dowinn Group managed VIP rooms at prominent Manila-integrated resorts such as Okada, Solaire, and City of Dreams, as well as at D’Heights and Royce in Clark. Additionally, they operated in various smaller hotels and casinos nationwide, ran their own casino in Rizal Park, and began casino operations at The Heritage Hotel in Manila in late 2023.

Last year, Dowinn was also identified as a Strategic Alliance Partner of billionaire Filipino businessman Manuel Villar Jr. in the development and management of two casinos in Las Piñas, located in southern Metro Manila.

A Complete Collapse

The problem for the company surfaced when Dowinn agents attempted to withdraw funds from the company’s accounts at Okada Manila and Solaire but were unsuccessful. One source described the situation as “the complete collapse of the company.”

The impact of this collapse on Dowinn’s casino partners is still uncertain. One operator revealed that they were also in the dark and awaiting further information. The respective operator confirmed that all gaming activities in Dowinn’s junket rooms had stopped.

Dowinn entered the Philippine market in 2013 through a partnership with Midas Hotel and Casino in Clark. Since then, the company has expanded its operations across the country. According to Dowinn’s own statements on its social media profiles, it has “more than 15 years of experience in the gaming industry with a substantial database of players, especially from the Korean and Southeast Asian regions.”

Junket companies have been facing difficult times lately as more and more governments are looking to limit their influence. In Macau, for instance, last year, the government decided to limit the number of junkets and promoters who are allowed to collaborate with casino operators. Moreover, the government of Macau also proposed a prohibition on licensed junkets issuing loans to players.