In the context of Southeast Asian countries competing for the casino economy map, the Philippine gaming market stands out with a strong growth trend. Aydemir Yuksel, a senior gaming consultant who has worked at The Venetian Macao and Marina Bay Sands Singapore, recently pointed out in an interview with "AGB" that the Philippine gaming is attracting global attention with "soaring revenues and rapid expansion."
Yuksel stated that Manila, Clark, and Cebu are continuously upgrading their infrastructure, and the total gaming revenue is steadily increasing, making it one of the fastest-growing markets in Southeast Asia. However, he also frankly stated that despite the high market heat, no major American gaming group has officially entered the Philippines, reflecting the international capital's wait-and-see attitude. "The Philippines lacks neither location nor demand, but it lacks a landmark brand that can drive global confidence," he said.
By contrast, Singapore, with its stable regulations, strict supervision, and high-end positioning, remains the "beacon of confidence" in the Asia-Pacific gaming industry. Yuksel pointed out that Singapore does not need aggressive expansion, just two more globally attractive resort licenses to easily reshape the entire regional pattern.
Regarding other competing countries, Yuksel also issued a warning: Thailand's policies change overnight, and reform agendas are repeatedly delayed; Vietnam has a high tax burden and lacks policy coherence; South Korea, despite having quality facilities, is limited by its domestic gambling ban.
Yuksel believes that in this Southeast Asian gaming race, the Philippines shows the most dynamic growth momentum, but to transition from "high growth" to "high value," it still needs to overcome the trust threshold and attract top international brands.
He concluded: "Thailand needs stability, Vietnam needs confidence, South Korea needs openness, and the Philippines just needs a big-name investor that can bring global trust—the market is ready."
