Philippines: Hann Casino Resort opens first phase of The Canyon expansion

Hann Philippines Inc. has opened the first floor of The Canyon, a major casino expansion at Hann Casino Resort in the Clark Freeport Zone, completing the initial phase of a project announced in November 2024 and a notable enhancement to the property since its rebranding from Widus Hotel and Casino in December 2021.

The first floor of the two-storey casino extension opened to the public on Friday, 12 December. The second floor is scheduled to open next year. Designed around an atrium concept inspired by rock formations and greenery, The Canyon represents a substantial increase in gaming capacity aimed at meeting rising demand during peak periods.

According to the promoter, the first-floor gaming area can accommodate up to 446 guests and will feature 584 slot machines and 34 table games. The addition further strengthens the resort’s gaming offering at a time when Clark continues to attract growing visitor volumes. 

Corporate data cited by GGRAsia shows that Hann Casino Resort already operates approximately 200 gaming tables and more than 1,000 slot machines across its existing casino floor.

The expansion also introduces new food and beverage options integrated into the gaming space. These include “The Canyon Café and Winery,” which seats 52 guests, and “Three Woks,” a dining venue offering Korean, Chinese, and Japanese cuisine with capacity for 148 diners.

Aristocrat Gaming has confirmed that it will supply more than 270 gaming machines to The Canyon, including “new titles specific to the Philippines market,” adding to the diversity of content available on the expanded floor.

Industry information previously reported by Inside Asian Gaming indicates that once The Canyon is fully operational, Hann Casino Resort’s total slot inventory is expected to increase by around 50%, while mass-market gaming tables are projected to expand by approximately 40 percent. The expansion follows internal assessments of sustained growth in player volumes, particularly during weekends and holidays.

“The idea was to create a larger, more dynamic main gaming floor,” said Dennis Andreaci, Senior Vice President of Casino Operations, in an interview earlier this year. “While there will be an exclusive, elegantly designed VIP area upstairs for a select clientele, the highlight is the expansive main floor. It’s a spacious, thoughtfully designed area featuring new concepts and a fresh aesthetic.”

Andreaci noted that congestion during peak periods highlighted the need for additional capacity. “When you look around the casino during peak periods, weekends and holidays, you can see that the gaming floor is very busy and the market is growing. We want to ensure that there is additional capacity for both table games and slot machines,” he said.

The Canyon forms part of an expansion that will add 22,113 square metres to Hann Casino Resort. Plans announced in November 2024 include 5,093 square metres dedicated to gaming, comprising a 3,590 square metre ground floor and a 1,504 square metre second floor designed for private gaming and dining. 

The first phase of the project was scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of 2025, with the full expansion expected to be finalized in the first quarter of 2026. The development is being financed in part through a PHP 6 billion ($100 million) omnibus loan agreement signed on 12 November 2024 with Asia United Bank Corporation and Union Bank of the Philippines.

“I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our bank partners for their unwavering trust and support for Hann Philippines,” said Chairman and CEO Dae Sik Han. “Together, we are creating a vibrant future not just for our company but for the region’s tourism and economic development.”