Suntrust works toward opening long-delayed Westside City resort
Suntrust Resort Holdings is preparing to expand into the Philippines’ regulated online gaming market as it works toward opening its long-delayed Westside City integrated resort in Entertainment City. The company plans to introduce an online gaming platform that will complement its future land-based casino operations, subject to regulatory approval.
The move would allow Suntrust to establish an omnichannel presence by combining digital gaming with its upcoming integrated resort. According to company officials, the online platform is expected to support customer acquisition and engagement ahead of the casino’s opening, while taking advantage of continued growth in the Philippine regulated online gaming sector.
Suntrust aims to pair a regulated online gaming platform with its upcoming integrated resort as digital gambling continues to expand in the Philippines.
The online initiative comes as Suntrust continues construction of its approximately US$1.25 billion Westside City project, also known as LET X, in Manila’s Entertainment City. The company recently pushed the resort’s opening to the third quarter of 2026 after reviewing construction progress, replacing its previous target of late 2025. Structural work has been completed, while interior fit-outs, landscaping, and commissioning activities remain underway.
Suntrust said it intends to secure the necessary approvals from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) before launching its online offering. The company views digital gaming as a complementary business rather than a replacement for its land-based operations, with both channels expected to operate under the country’s regulated framework.
The planned expansion follows broader changes in the Philippine gaming market, where licensed domestic online gaming has continued to grow as regulators shift their focus toward locally regulated operators. At the same time, the government has moved to eliminate Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), while encouraging growth in regulated domestic gaming activities under PAGCOR’s oversight.
PAGCOR has repeatedly identified the electronic gaming segment as one of the main drivers of industry growth. The regulator has also continued updating its regulatory framework to accommodate new forms of online gaming while strengthening player protection and responsible gaming measures.
