The Philippines has launched its bid to become Asia’s third gambling hub with the opening of a $1.2 billion casino, as the region battles the U.S. for supremacy in the global gambling market.

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In China, Macau’s $38 billion gambling industry already generates six times the revenue of the Las Vegas Strip. In Southeast Asia, Singapore’s gambling revenue matched that of the U.S. casino capital within a year of the island opening its first resorts in 2010. Now Manila is gunning for Vegas, too.
The new Solaire casino, the gambling-industry debut of international ports billionaire Enrique “Ricky” Razon Jr., is the first of four big resorts to open near the palm-tree-lined strip leading to Manila Bay. Next year a resort by Macau casino heavyweight Melco Crown Entertainment Ltd. and the Philippines’ richest man, property developer Henry Sy, is scheduled to open down the road. A venture between Malaysian casino giant Genting Bhd. and another local billionaire, Andrew Tan, is also planned. Japanese gambling magnate Kazuo Okada is building the fourth resort.



 The Philippines to start gambling will help their economy an raise the living standards of the people as long as the Government doesn't get greedy. The Philippines are cheap to visit and beautiful, so as long as they keep Guerrilla war fare at bay and stop the kidnapping of tourist they could become a place to visit and gamble.