The SM Group’s Belle Corp., chaired by businessman Willy Ocier, is seeking a gaming license for a casino resort in Clark, Pampanga.
On Thursday, Belle confirmed a Reuters report about potential plans for a $300 million integrated casino project north of Manila. Company officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“This is to confirm that the gaming-focused investment companies of Premium Leisure Corp., Belle's subsidiary, has applied for a gaming license from government regulators,” Belle said in the filing.
“However, as information on potential investments, much less plans, of any specific project, specifically within Clark City in Central Luzon, are still too preliminary at this point, especially considering that the application for license has yet to be acted on, we are still in no position to make any confirmation thereon,” it added.
Belle, which has interests in the City of Dreams integrated casino along Manila Bay, rose 1.38 percent to P2.20 per share after confirming the news.