Melco to Boost Budget for Manila Casino

Bloomberg – Melco Crown Entertainment Ltd. (MPEL) said it will boost its budget for its Manila casino in the Philippines by 10 percent to $680 million after the company received government approval to add more gaming tables. The country’s casino regulator gave the company, a venture between Macau gambling tycoon Lawrence Ho and Australian billionaire James Packer, approval to increase gaming tables to 365 from 242, while slot machines and electronic table games to 1,680 each from original 1,450 combined, the company’s Philippines unit said today in a filing to the country’s stock exchange. Melco Crown (Philippines) Resorts Corp., which…