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Island Cove (Cavite)
Island Cove was an online gambling complex primarily owned and controlled by Chinese nationals in Island Cove and Animal Island in Kawit, Cavite, Philippines. It was originally a resort and leisure park called "Covelandia Island Resort", which then closed in 2018, then reopened under the name "Island Cove Resort and Leisure Park" or simply as "Island Cove" in 2021. Both were owned by the Remulla political family before it hosted a hub for Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs). The site was operated by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) before it was shut down in 2024. Island Cove used to be known as Pulo ni Burunggoy (transl. Burunggoy's Island).[1] HistoryAs a resort The two islands used to be a property owned by the Remulla political family. It hosted a resort and leisure complex twice; the first being Covelandia Island Resort which operated in the 1970s to the 1980s,[2] and the second being Island Cove Resort and Leisure Park which was operational from 1998 to 2018.[3] The resort also had zoos and a crocodile farm.[4] Starting in 2007 after his term as congressman ended, Gilbert Remulla was the general manager of the resort. Remulla said that his father, Juanito Remulla Sr. opened Covelandia in 1976, then closed in 1986. It then reopened as the Island Cove Hotel and Leisure Park by 1997.[5] In 2018, the property was acquired from the Remullas by a group of Filipino Chinese businessmen.[6] The resort ceased operations on July 28.[3] As a gambling hubThe islands was developed into an online gambling hub under Oriental Game Ltd.[7][8] Construction lasted from 2018 to 2021 before the POGO hub became operational.[9] The hub was noted for employing Chinese migrant workers, which raised security concerns due to its proximity to the Danilo Atienza Air Base in the context of the South China Sea dispute. The Chinese government said that gambling is illegal in China, including services provided from outside China including by POGOs.[10] In 2023, the POGO industry and by extension the hub was the subject of a Senate inquiry.[11] PAGCOR said that it had found no illegal activities occurring within the hub's premises.[12][13] The casino hub ceased operations on November 30, 2024, following a directive by president Bongbong Marcos to ban POGOs in the country.[9][14] It was certified closed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government on December 17, 2024.[15] FacilitiesResortBy 2014, the resort had the following facilities:[5]
The resort's relatively short distance from Metro Manila was one of its selling points. [5] By 2015, other amenities included a spa, KTV, four restaurants, and a hotel.[16] Gambling hubThe Island Cove POGO hub was built by Monolith with Jose Siao Ling & Associates as the architect. It had a conditioned floor area of 276,782.09 m2 (2,979,257.6 sq ft).[17] It covered an area of 30 hectares (74 acres) and had 57 buildings. The hub has numerous amenities such as a entertainment outlets, clinic, restaurants, a hotel and dormitories.[13] OperationsGambling hubFirst Orient owns the Island Cove POGO hub but it leased the property to four licensees namely Glarion Technologies, Merit Legend Solutions, Squared Route Technologies, and Digital Jenius. At its peak the hub employed 30,000 people but only had 4,000 at the time of its closure.[13] References
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