Waterfront wins Court of Appeal casino license
Pagcor directed to reverse licence decision and fined by CA
The Court of Appeals has denied an appeal by the PAGCOR – Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp – to reverse a decision calling on the regulator to issue a license to Waterfront Philippines for a casino, with a resolution was dated April 22, where the court reaffirms an October 2018 decision.
“After carefully considering the grounds raised in the subject motion, we find that the said reasons and the arguments in support thereof have been amply treated, discussed and passed upon in the subject decision. The additional arguments proffered therein constitute no cogent or compelling reason to modify, much less reverse, it,” ruled the Court of Appeals.
Waterfront filed a petition to the Courts in 2015 after Pagcor refused to act on its application, despite it having entered all relevant documentation. The court found Waterfront completed all requirements for the project application, including paying a US$100 million deposit.
The CA also sustained the award of P100,000 as moral damages, as well as P100,000 (a total of around US$2,500) as exemplary damages to Waterfront, which plans to build the Grand Waterfront Hotel and Casino, stressing that the trial court’s decision should be implemented without delay, especially the issuance of a provisional license to operate in favour of Waterfront.
