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Japan’s Universal Entertainment Corp, the parent company of Okada Manila, has revised its financial outlook for 2025, now expecting a significant loss of JPY14 billion for its shareholders. This sharply contrasts with its earlier forecast for a modest profit of JPY800 million. The company further announced a JPY26 billion cut in its projected net sales, bringing the total forecast down to JPY124 billion.
This revision reflects broader challenges in the Philippine casino market, particularly in its VIP segment. Universal Entertainment pointed to a slump in high-roller gaming at Okada Manila, increasing competition in the mass market, and a decline in tourist arrivals as major contributors to a changing and more difficult business environment than forecasted.
Further information regarding these challenges was revealed as Okada Manila reported a 15.3 percent year-on-year drop in casino gross gaming revenue in three months. The biggest blow happened when the VIP revenue plummeted by more than 40 percent to only about US$24.8 million. These figures show how Okada Manila struggles to hold its market share despite the constantly changing customer trends.
Its major business aside from casino operations is the manufacture of pachinko and amusement machines targeted for the Japanese market. The company also reported delays in the launching of new titles scheduled in the fourth quarter due to low approval rates in regulatory testing. This has caused the sales volume in the current fiscal year to fall short of the planned 130,000 units.
Despite such challenges, Universal Entertainment showed some improvement on a nine-month basis in 2025. Its net loss attributable to shareholders shrunk to almost JPY10.65 billion, narrowing from a JPY19.46 billion loss in the comparable period last year. Group-wide net sales showed no change at JPY92.57 billion year-on-year.
One of the most significant moves at Okada Manila has been the return of Shirley Tam to the position of EVP of casino marketing. Hailed as one of the most respected figures in business, her return to the resort is expected to bring fresh vigor in its marketing activities. Universal Entertainment noted that Tam and her team are busy in making focused seasonal gaming promotions that are aimed at driving demand across all customer segments of the company.
In addition to the marketing efforts, Okada Manila is continuing its enhancements on its non-gaming offerings. Renovations in some of the guest rooms at the Pearl Wing began and are expected to be finished before the holiday season. The move will mix gaming at the resort with hospitality offerings that it is upgrading.
With strategic leadership and improvements at its facilities, Universal Entertainment would continue to stabilize core casino operations and retain customers for the challenging year ahead. In its financial recalibration, the company underlined the unpredictable dynamics the Philippine integrated resort sector is facing, but it also showed the continuous effort to adapt to these market fluctuations.
Source: GGR Asia
