Philippines: Could newly launched City of Dreams edge out Las Vegas?

If your idea of a “dream city” includes a massive gambling casino, a Nobu Hotel and nightclubs developed by Michael Ault, head to the Philippines.

That’s where you’ll find City of Dreams, a casino-entertainment resort created by Melco Crown Entertainment in Manila that opened Tuesday. Fireworks, celebrities (Kelly Rowland and Ne-Yo walked the red carpet) and high rollers of the corporate kind welcomed guests to the new $1-billion site.

The mega-casino’s sleek glass towers surround a huge golden egg, called the Fortune Egg, which creators hope will become a city landmark.

City of Dreams in Parañaque along Roxas Boulevard is part of a much bigger Entertainment City that’s intended to go up against popular global gambling venues such as Macau, Singapore and Las Vegas. When completed, it will feature four casino complexes.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the Philippines’ gaming agency predicts gambling revenues of $10 billion a year by the end of the decade -- outpacing Las Vegas and Singapore.

Back to City of Dreams. The egg will house two nightclubs, Pangaea (there are several, including one in Singapore) and Chaos.

There’s an entertainment bar with live performances on the casino floor, three hotels -- Crown Towers, Nobu Hotel and Hyatt City of Dreams Manila -- and dining options from Nobu as well as the Crystal Dragon, which specializes in Chinese dishes to woo top gamblers from China.

Shopping runs to luxury brands such as Hugo Boss, Montblanc, Rolex and Roberto Cavalli. An interactive entertainment play space designed by DreamWorks will open later this year.

Info: Dream City