In a statement, Chairman and CEO Cristino Naguiat Jr. reported that the agency’s income from its own casinos in November reached P609 million or 35.59-percent higher compared with the same month last year.

Aside from being the highest in Pagcor’s 25-year history, the P2.32-billion income exceeded the agency’s November 2011 target by P188 million. It was also indicative of improving performance for the agency as the November take was higher by P140 million compared with the P2.18-billion gaming income in October.

Pagcor’s share from the earnings of licensed private casinos, poker, e-games and commercial bingo in November totaled P894 million, up by P103 million against the same period last year.

“We are beginning to complement the bullish performance of private licensed casinos. Competition is good for us. It only makes us more determined to keep on implementing innovative ways on how to survive despite the fierce competition we are facing both on the local and international front,” Naguiat said.

Income from slot machine operations nationwide was P1.1 billion, also the highest on record.

This, Naguiat said, was mainly due to the revved up offerings of popular and top-of-the-line slot machines that have been installed in the different Casino Filipino branches and arcades nationwide.

“We are getting better in our gaming mix. We hope to continue this momentum, with the hope of eventually tapping more foreign tourists to visit our casinos and arcades,” he said.

(Max V. de Leon)