Philippines President greenlights new casinos in top tourist island Boracay

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has lifted a ban on new casino developments and approved the project to launch a casino in Boracay, announced the Government on Sunday, August 29.

“The president has given his go-signal allowing the operation of a casino in Boracay,” said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque in a statement. “Prior to this directive, casino establishments have not been operating on the island.”

The development of the proposed casino will be under strict watch of health and safety protocols imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as observance of safeguards to keep minors away from gambling activities, reports Inquirer.

“This latest presidential pronouncement is part of the revenue-generating efforts of the government to augment funds for Covid-19 response,” further adds the statement.

Gaming regulator PAGCOR will start accepting applications for new developments following the news, which reverse a moratorium imposed by Duterte in 2018.

It is being speculated that the shift in policy could reignite interest in a plan proposed by Macau’s Galaxy Entertainment Group and Philippines-based gaming business Leisure and Resorts World Corp to develop a $550 million casino resort on the Boracay island.

The venture acquired a 23-hectare site on Boracay and was granted a provisional casino license in March 2018, which soon would cease to function as the moratorium came into force. Duterte also halted a resort development by Landing International in Manila.

The President’s opinion has shifted since, as the country seeks funds to come back from the pandemic. On Thursday, August 26 Duterte said: “We have no money now and I would get money whenever I could. If it’s from gambling, so be it,” further reports Inquirer.

Duterte’s change of mind saw gradual steps. In July this year, the Government began allowing the resumption of certain gambling activities, while the policy against casino developments remained as a constant until past Sunday, citing alleged rejection from the residents of Boracay.

"If they say, ‘you said before that you were against gambling but you are now encouraging to open the casino in Boracay for tourists’, well, forgive me for the contradiction,” said the President, citing the need to cover expenses.

So far, local casino license holder Alliance Global Group Inc. has announced it will proceed with a casino project in Boracay, in which it already has several hotels and a golf course, reports Reuters.

“We are very hopeful that the tourism industry in this island will recover fast after the pandemic,” said company Chairman Andrew Tan.