International Entertainment targets mid-to-late November 2026 online gaming launch in the Philippines

International Entertainment Corporation is preparing to launch the second phase of its online gaming business in the Philippines in mid-to-late November 2026, subject to final integration, testing and evaluation. For PSPs and payment teams, the key point is that this is not a simple marketing rollout: IEC is moving from a cooperation model to a self-operated platform with explicit controls around location, compliance and gaming content.

1. The Hong Kong-listed group will run the service under the LaVie Resort & Casino Manila name through its Philippine subsidiary, New Coast Leisure Inc. (NCLI). Phase Two shifts IEC into a self-operated structure, with the company set to own, develop, control and manage the platform, including its gaming systems, software, technology and equipment.
2. The planned product mix covers online table games (OTG), online slot machines (OSM) and electronic gaming systems (EGS). The initial table-game lineup includes Commission Baccarat, Super 6 Baccarat and Tiger Baccarat, streamed from areas approved for remote gaming operations at LaVie Resort & Casino Manila in Malate, Metro Manila.
3. Customers will also be able to access selected physical slot machines at the property through the platform, with outcomes supported by certified random number generator technology. IEC said its wider digital framework includes electronic casino content and other approved formats, but that does not mean every product in scope will be live on day one. The company has not published a complete opening-day game list.
4. Access will be limited to eligible registered players physically located in the Philippines. IEC says it has introduced IP-based restrictions, virtual private network (VPN) detection and other safeguards to block overseas access or attempts to bypass geographic controls, alongside account verification and ongoing monitoring.
5. NCLI will operate the platform under the oversight of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), the country’s gaming regulator. IEC says the subsidiary has already secured the material licences, approvals and accreditations required for Phase Two, including an electronic gaming licence and Gaming System Administrator accreditation, and has paid the performance cash deposit required by PAGCOR. The launch still depends on completion of final technical work, certification where applicable, and the integration, testing and evaluation process before operations begin.

For high-risk operators and their payment partners, the operational detail here matters more than the headline. A Philippines-only product with IP controls, VPN detection, account verification and regulator oversight tends to put compliance infrastructure, geolocation controls and onboarding discipline at the center of the payment stack.