Universal Entertainment Aims to Revive Overseas Slot Operations via Nevada Venture
The business will push the operations through newly formed UDN Gaming
Universal Entertainment Corp is preparing to return to the overseas slot machine business through a newly formed Nevada vehicle, UDN Gaming, as the Japanese group looks for a third revenue pillar beyond pachinko and Okada Manila.
According to the company’s announcement, UDN was incorporated by president and executive director Tomohiro Okada and will be used to pursue licensing and market entry in the United States before broader international distribution.
The company said it wants to build “a “third pillar” in addition to its existing businesses”.
It also said it plans “re-entry into the business where it can utilise the technologies, intellectual property, business know-how, and other resources related to the development, manufacture and sale of gaming equipment that it has cultivated to date.”
Nevada Route
The structure is designed to handle Nevada’s licensing timetable, which Universal said could take considerable time.
UDN will lead the initial application process while Universal seeks its own approvals later, a phased approach the group says should keep the project moving.
UDN is a related party because Tomohiro Okada, UEC’s representative director and president, directly holds 100% of its voting rights and serves as a director of UDN.
At present UEC does not hold voting rights in UDN; the company says its loan and licence arrangements will result in UDN becoming a consolidated subsidiary under accounting rules..
Pressure on Core Businesses
The diversification push comes after a difficult year. Inside Asian Gaming reported in February that Universal posted a JPY231.4 billion ($1.51 billion) loss for 2025, widened by impairment charges and costs linked to Okada Manila.
Earlier this summer, Okada Manila opened a new on-site marketing zone to push its online casino offering. Okada Manila described the venue as a “first-of-its-kind interactive showcase” for online casino gaming in the Philippines.
The agreements are scheduled to be executed on 30 September 2026, with loan drawdowns made as needed thereafter.
UEC said the transaction’s effect on consolidated results for the year ending 31 December 2026 is expected to be immaterial, and that it will disclose material developments as they arise.
