Melco Crown Gearing up for City of Dreams

The City of Dreams marks the Philippines most expensive casino project ever, topping the also massive Solaire Casino which opened in 2013.

The Melco Crown Resorts Company has begun hiring staff in anticipation for the opening of the City of Dreams Manila later this year. The company has stated that it plans to hire 5,000 people prior to the opening of the massive resort casino.

For decades the casino industry in the Pacific nation was controlled by PAGCOR, a government monopoly. However, Filipino gambling laws have been liberalized to allow more competition in the industry, and many private investors are planning major projects in the country.

City of Dreams to be country’s most expensive casino project

The City of Dreams costs $1.3 billion and Melco co-chairman Lawrence Ho states that it will have 365 gaming tables and 3,000 slot machines, making it one of the world’s largest casinos. The hefty price tag just tops the $1.2 billion it cost to put up the Solaire Casino, which was launched in March of 20134.

What is driving these massive developments in a country which rarely makes gambling news ? Many domestic and international investors see a huge opportunity there, given the huge demand for gambling services in Asia and the fact that Macau and Singapore are currently the only major hub cities in the region. Solaire investor and Manila native Ricky Razon Jr. has stated his attention to turn Manila into a casino destination rivaling Macau and Las Vegas.