Some important changes are taking place at the Widus Hotel and Casino following the facility being granted its regular gaming license by the Philippines Amusement and Gaming Corporation. The Widus Hotel and Casino is a luxurious facility located in the Clark Freeport Zone around ninety minutes from Metro Manilla and just seven minutes of driving from the Clark International Airport.

This luxurious property with a four-star hotel reassures its guests to great accommodation and very pleasurable stay within its eight hundred and seventy-three rooms and hotel suites. Its guests can choose from a great array of premium services which will soon include enjoying some casino fun as this Philippines-based facility has been finally granted permission to offer these kinds of services.

As reported by GGRAsia on Thursday, the Widus Philippines Incorporated company luxurious facility located in the Clark Freeport Zone had finally received its gaming certification following the Philippines Amusement and Gaming Corporation’s July meeting which brought together board members. Being granted its regular gaming license makes the Widus Hotel and Casino the only facility of this kind to hold a full license.

Receiving Its Provisional Gaming License in December of 2014

Five years ago, in December of 2014, the company was granted its provisional gaming license while today it has a full gaming license after the operator has proven that it had actually surpassed several or state-mandated investment thresholds which are around $86.7 million. This was enough for the Widus Hotel and Casino’s owner to be awarded its full gaming license four years after receiving its provisional gaming license.

Commenting on the news, the Widus Philippines Incorporated’s Vice President Neki Liwanag said that being granted its full gaming license several months before the planned timeline just shows the company’s full commitment to the gaming industry as well as its belief in the gaming industry’s success both in the Philippines and in the Clark Freeport Zone. He also added that this is one reason why the company is already working on expanding its existing casino floor and related facilities.

Churchill Downs Incorporated Also Hoping to Expand

In the meantime, one Kentucky-based company, Churchill Downs Incorporated has already asked the state’s officials to bring winter horseracing meets to its luxurious, $200 million-worth facility that the company seeks to construct in Campbell County. According to one report by Courier-Journal, this Louisville-based company has already filled its official application with the state’s Horse Racing Commission and it hopes to be given full authorization to provide such contests starting from December until March.

Such contests are planned to be held at the company’s New Latonia Racing and Gaming facility whose construction should start soon. The facility is located around six miles from Cincinnati. In its official application, the Churchill Downs Incorporated’s officials explained that they want to start running these horseracing meets at its one hundred and forty-three-years old facility in Louisville from January while they plan on relocating their horseracing competitors to its Kentucky-based venue from December of the following year.

When it comes to the company’s New Latonia Racing and Gaming venue, Churchill Downs Incorporated plans to construct in several stages with an investment of $150 million for the first stage. The first stage features a massive, mile-long horseracing track with a clubhouse, stables, and restaurants. Later on, the company plans on adding a $50-million worth hotel which can be utilized by horseracing competitors.

As it was concluded on Sunday last week, the newly re-branded Frontier Capital’s casino has finally opened its doors to the public. After its soft-launch which took place in June, the New South Wales-based casino investor used its official press release to announce that its former Casablanca Casino, now FortuneGate Casino located at the Clark Freeport Zone has resumed its gaming operations. The casino operates within the Hotel Stotsenberg.

All gaming operations at the former casino had been terminated by the country’s gaming regulator on the 3^rd of February, 2017. As it was reported, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp issued the order for terminating gaming activities at the Casablanca Casino for failing to meet specific escrow requirements. In their official press released, the Frontier’s officials said that the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp inspectors attended the FortuneGate Casino’s soft opening after which they verified the facility’s compliance.

This was the most important step for the operator to resume its gaming operations within the re-branded FrontierGate Casino. It is worth mentioning that the holding company for both the casino and the Hotel Stotsenberg, Frontier Capital acquired the hotel’s shares in January of 2016 for around $26 million. One month later, the Australian company has gained full control of the hotel and all facilities within.

Frontier Capital Settling an Escrow Account

After the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp issued the order for the casino closure, the regulator’ Chief Executive Officer and Chairman Andrea Domingo said that the casino failed to meet the mandatory escrow requirements after multiple extensions. For this reason, the country’s regulator had required the holding owner, Frontier Capital to settle a separate escrow account with around $4.39 million.

After setting the escrow account, Frontier Capital’s officials said that this step was, in fact, the company’s full compliance with the escrow requirements set by the country’s regulator for casino operators. Following the news about the launch of its re-branded casino, the Frontier Capital’s Chairman Henri Ho stated that the company is delighted to have finally passed all reinstating operations and hurdles of the casino. He also added that the company is looking forward to expanding its gaming operations alongside FortuneGate Casino which has already established itself as a reputable name in the industry.

FortuneGate Casino Featuring More Than 134 Slot Machines

As it was reported, the newly rebranded FortuneGate Casino will feature 134 slot machines alongside 28 table games and a money wheel. Moreover, the casino will also feature VIP rooms, a massive entertainment area with a bar and several non-gaming facilities. The holding owner, Frontier Capital also said that FortuneGate Casino has the company’s strong support in all VIP markets including the Philippine market.

Furthermore, FortuneGate Holdings which owns FortuneGate Casino is listed as a Philippine company which invests in land-based casino projects including casino resorts. The company’s listing also says that it is a provider of casino management services and operations. As it was revealed recently, the company is also one of the majority stakeholders in Tech Innovation Management Ltd. which is a British Virgin Islands-headquartered company. While the company will focus on serving the massive Philippine gaming market, it also intends on capitalizing on its presence across Southeast Asian gaming markers as well.