The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. says a plan by Galaxy Entertainment Group to build a $500 million integrated casino resort on the island of Boracay is on hold—but not off the table.
According to Reuters, PAGCOR may entertain the idea if the company can convince President Rodrigo Duterte of the “advantages” of such a resort.
Last month both the state-run gaming regulator and Duterte seemed to rule out the project. Duterte was quoted as saying, “I don’t have plans there for casinos. There are enough, there are too many. Casino here, casino there.” Presidential spokesman Harry Roque added that there would be “no new casino in Boracay.”
PAGCOR President Alfredo Lim told Reuters that Galaxy has to “explain to the president the advantages and that they will comply with the environmental laws.” He added that any casinos would cater to foreign players.
Macau-based Galaxy and its local partner, Leisure and Resorts World Corp., had won a provisional license for the casino project from the regulator. Last month the operator said it was seeking clarification on the matter following Roque’s comments. Duterte has been on and off about gaming since he became president, and recently insisted that no casino would be built on Boracay due to the “deleterious effects” of gambling.
Meanwhile, the Philippines’ most famous holiday island has been closed to tourism for six months for an environmental cleanup. Duterte called it a “cesspool” that “places every person, a tourist or local in jeopardy.”
“If we do not intervene, there will come a point that it’s no longer swimmable. Not just habitable. You know, you do not own it. You just take care of it for the next generation,” he said.
The cleanup began April 26.
