Albee Benitez not giving up on $500-M Boracay casino-resort project

BACOLOD CITY — Businessman and Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez confirmed that his company's plan to build a $500-million casino-resort on Boracay Island is still on the table.

Benitez is the majority owner and founder of DigiPlus Interactive Corporation, formerly Leisure and Resorts World Corporation (LRWC). 

In a chance interview with reporters here, the Bacolod City mayor said DigiPlus is in talks with a firm for the integrated casino-resort project.

“That is exactly what we are asking: What will it take for you to come back in again? It is just a matter of getting [their] comfort level high enough to return,” Benitez said.

He said the firm is still “iffy” about the project “because what guarantee can we give them that what happened before won’t happen again.”

To recall, in 2018, then-president Rodrigo Duterte ordered a halt to the entry of new casinos in the Philippines to prevent an oversupply.

Duterte also banned the establishment of casinos in Boracay as he proceeded with the plan to close and clean up the island for six months.

A year before the Boracay cleanup and casino ban, Macau-based Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd. and its local partner, listed gaming firm LRWC, announced plans to develop a $500-million casino-resort in famous tourist destination.

A subsidiary of LRWC even acquired approximately 23 hectares of land in Barangay Manoc-Manoc, Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan for the casino-resort project.

Galaxy and LRWC secured gaming licenses from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation prior to Duterte’s 2018 order.

But due to Duterte’s directive, LRWC dropped the plan in 2019.

In 2021, Duterte had a change of heart as he announced he would allow the establishment of casinos in Boracay in a bid to generate more funds for the government.

Benitez expressed confidence that the project will push through, saying the Marcos administration understands “the value of bringing over a world-class [casino] operator to the Philippines.”

“Let us look at it from an international tourism perspective, because that is where the resources, the dollars are in that can propel the country into greater heights,” the Bacolod city mayor said.

Benitez, who stepped down from his company’s management to return to politics in 2021, reiterated that he is not giving up on the Boracay casino-resort project.

“Sayang eh [It would be a waste]. It is already in the international map, international radar...,” he said.

“Our partner… in fact, they laid down all the necessary preparations. We got all the license,” he added.

The gaming tycoon added that the diplomatic situation between Beijing and Manila would also be a factor for Galaxy to come back.

“Of course, the clientele ng Galaxy are mostly Chinese,” Benitez said.

In March this year,  LRWC changed its name to DigiPlus, a holding company for all its subsidiaries in various gaming and entertainment sectors, including AB Leisure Exponent Inc. (ABLE), which owns 132 bingo parlors.

It also fully owns Total Gamezone Xtreme Inc., the assignee and purchaser of the assets, rights, and interests of Digiwave Solutions Inc., which operates and is a licensee of PAGCOR eGames stations.

Other subsidiaries of the company include Blue Chip Gaming and Leisure Corp., First Cagayan Leisure & Resort Corp., LR Data Center Solutions Inc., AB Leisure Global Inc., LR Land Developers Inc., Bingo Bonanza (HK) Limited, Prime Investment Korea Inc., and Hotel Enterprises of the Philippines Inc. — BM/KBK, GMA Integrated News