TWO of the Philippines' largest luxury resort and casino operators, Solaire and Okada Manila, have cut ties with junket operators linked to the laundering of ransom payments made for the release of kidnapped businessman Anson Que, according to a highly reliable source with direct knowledge of the case.

The same source told The Manila Times that Resorts World, another major casino, is also preparing to sever its affiliation with 9 Dynasty Group — one of the accused junket operators — following the discontinuation of White Horse's operations at the resort in March 2025. This information comes from insiders at the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

The move comes as authorities ramp-up efforts to dismantle illicit financial networks tied to organized crime.

In a statement issued Wednesday, the 9 Dynasty Group, also known as Jiuding Group, announced its immediate exit from the Philippine market, citing "strategic adjustments" in an official communication addressed to its members.

The junket operator, which was established in the Philippines in June 2021, attributed its sudden departure to strategic adjustments in global operations, carefully avoiding any reference to the ongoing scandal over the ransom payments.

The company outlined specific measures to facilitate an orderly transition for its Philippine clientele since all physical VIP hall operations in the country will be suspended immediately. It assured members that its international operations outside the country will continue without interruption.

The company said for Philippine-based clients, a special withdrawal window has been established, permitting members to process transactions at any 9 Dynasty Group VIP hall cashier until May 9, with the notable provision that all withdrawals will be processed without handling fees.

It said high-value clients seeking to withdraw amounts exceeding P5,000,000 are required to schedule appointments through designated customer service channels to ensure secure processing.

It said that beyond the May 9 deadline, remaining withdrawals will need to be coordinated through Jiuding's customer service representatives.

While the official statement maintains that this withdrawal stems purely from business strategy, industry observers note the conspicuous timing, coinciding with the Philippine National Police's (PNP) revelation that 9 Dynasty Group and White Horse Club allegedly served as financial conduits in laundering the P200-million ransom paid for Anson Que's release.

The PNP said the two junket operators facilitated a sophisticated money laundering operation involving e-wallets, shell accounts and cryptocurrency.