Okada Manila opens 70-slot zone with AGS, Aruze products

Philippine casino resort Okada Manila opened on Sunday a dedicated gaming zone featuring 70 slot machines from suppliers AGS and Aruze Gaming Global, with new games making their debut in the Philippine market. The area, located at the entrance to the resort’s Pearl Lobby gaming floor, features 35 machines from each supplier and six featured game families. The installation also includes upgraded LED displays. The Okada Manila complex – part of the Entertainment City zone in Manila – is controlled by Tiger Resort, Leisure and Entertainment Inc, a subsidiary of Japanese conglomerate Universal Entertainment Corp. Rick Colman (pictured, centre), vice president of electronic gaming operations at Okada Manila, described the installation during the opening ceremony as the first dedicated AGS and Aruze zone in the Philippines and Asia. Speaking to GGRAsia, Mr Colman said the project combined a prominent location with an agreement for new games from the two suppliers to be introduced at Okada Manila before being rolled out elsewhere in the market. “Anything that’s new, they’ll bring it to the market here first. So that’s a real advantage for us,” he said. Mr Colman explained that the location served both VIP customers and main-floor visitors. The additional LED screens and dedicated layout were intended to draw attention to an entrance area that players could otherwise overlook while exploring the casino floor. “We thought this will attract people as soon as they walk in the door and bring to life an area that previously has not attracted as much attention,” he stated. Mr Colman said securing exclusive product launches was an important element of the initiative. “Exclusivity is great. If you can do that, most manufacturers don’t do that,” he stated. “We’ve got a good partnership with both AGS and Aruze. They have agreed to do that.” New games, cabinets The AGS selection includes “Legends of Imperial 88”, “Triple Coin Treasures” and “Rakin’ Bacon! Triple Oink”. Aruze Gaming Global’s offering comprises “Triple Treasure Pot Spin”, “Cash Master Blaster” and “Horrorific!”, according to the resort’s announcement. The launch also marked the Philippine-market debut of an AGS cabinet with a 49-inch curved screen, according to Deric Goh (pictured, left), director of Mindslot-e, the exclusive distributor of AGS in Asia. Mr Goh told GGRAsia that the installation represented an important step in expanding the supplier’s presence in the Philippine market. He said three new AGS game titles were being launched at Okada Manila, with another four to five titles being considered for subsequent introductions. Mr Goh noted that the supplier had already achieved positive results in the Philippine market with its “Lion Cash” product. The Okada Manila installation would also allow AGS to assess the performance of its new products ahead of a wider rollout, he added. “We kind of like the testing ground as well as showing the game’s performance in this setting,” said Mr Goh, noting that positive results could help generate interest from other casino operators. Michael Tuen (pictured, right), senior sales account executive at Aruze Gaming Global, said the company was introducing three new titles at Okada Manila. He also said the supplier was preparing to introduce a new cabinet in the first quarter of 2027, with the Philippines potentially becoming the first market in Asia to receive it. “This is the most important jurisdiction for us, the Philippines in Asia,” Mr Tuen told GGRAsia. During Sunday’s opening ceremony, Mr Colman said the new gaming area reflected the resort’s efforts to improve its product offering through partnerships with international suppliers. “For us, this investment is about continually improving the guest experience as we listen to what our players enjoy, refresh our offerings, and work with our international partners to bring more choices to our guests,” he stated.