Universal Entertainment and Tiger Resort Asia reclaim Okada Manila

September 6, 2022 Philippines Crime & Legal Industry Updates

Tiger Resort Asia (TRAL) has retaken control of Okada Manila, as stated by its parent company Universal Entertainment.

The casino had been in the hands of Kazuo Okada, an ex-Board member of Tiger Resort Leisure & Entertainment (TRLEI), who was removed years ago after claims that he was involved in money laundering and embezzlement.

However, after receiving a Status Quo Anter Order (SQAO) from the Philippine Supreme Court stating he should be reinstated, Okada stormed the Okada Manila and removed the existing TRLEI board members from the property.

Okada has held the casino since spring, but now it has been reclaimed after members of TRLEI’s parent company TRAL – itself owned by Universal Entertainment – posed as casino workers and took control of the casino on Friday 2 September 2022.

TRAL members were accompanied by representatives from PAGCOR and police officers when they reassumed control on 2 September. Friday reports told of security personnel working for Okada barricading themselves in the casino’s parking lot.

Despite videos and reports clearly depicting violent scenes, Universal claims its reclamation of the casino has been “generally peaceful.”

Furthermore, the Philippines’ regulator PAGCOR says it is withdrawing its recognition of Okada and its party as the legitimate operating partner of the casino.

It has also ordered casino workers and Okada’s Filipino partners to stop distributing funds from the property’s coffers.

However, it seems Okada himself may be excused from any further repercussions from PAGCOR. The operator claims the SQAO awarded to Okada would be recognised, but only in relation to Okada himself, not his co-conspirators.