• Subscribe
  • Magazines
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Monday 4 August 2025
  • zh-hant 中文
  • ja 日本語
  • en English
IAG
Advertisement
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
No Result
View All Result
IAG
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
No Result
View All Result
IAG
No Result
View All Result

PAGCOR asked to cancel all Boracay casino licenses: report

Newsdesk by Newsdesk
Mon 22 Oct 2018 at 18:07
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Philippines gaming regulator PAGCOR has received an official request from the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF) to cancel the licenses of all casino operators on the island after it was reopened to tourists last week.

Local news outlet Business Mirror is reporting that PAGCOR chair Andrea Domingo has received a letter from the BIATF, signed by three leading BIATF officials, demanding the withdrawal of casino licenses on Boracay, including provisional licenses for future casino-resorts and those of casinos already in operation.

If implemented, the withdrawal would include the provisional casino license granted to Macau’s Galaxy Entertainment Group in March. Galaxy is planning a US$500 million integrated resort in partnership with Leisure and Resorts World Corp.

According to Business Mirror, the BIATF’s letter reads, “In view of the pronouncement of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte that no casino shall be allowed in Boracay Island, and in the light of the mandate given to it through Executive Order [EO] No. 5, Series of 2018, the [BIATF] requests that any and all gaming franchise/s and/or provisional license/s in Boracay Island shall be canceled by your good office.

“We shall be grateful for your timely cooperation on this matter for the protection of one of our nation’s most treasured islands.”

Aside from Galaxy, the cancellation would also hit Megaworld Corp’s Savoy Hotel operations and Hotel Soffia, while those already operating on Boracay include Movenpick Resort & Spa, Crown Regency Resort and Convention Center and Paradise Garden Resort Hotel and Convention Center.

While President Duterte expressed as early as April his opposition to the launch of any new casinos on Boracay, Galaxy Chairman Lui Che Woo stated in August that the company remained “very confident” of following through with its IR plans.

“When Galaxy negotiated with the Philippines government, our plans were to turn Boracay into an internationally acclaimed island,” he told CNBC at the time. “First, it will be low-density and second, we want to restore the beautiful natural scenery to how it was before.

“Our plans are for a low-density environment, like in the Maldives, instead of a big casino floor like in Manila or other places that are dense or busy. We want to lure high-end customers to come and enjoy and to help the Philippines lift its status. It is no longer the top-tier natural scenic place it once was due to pollution and sub-standard facilities.

“Gaming will actually be a small portion, we expect a few dozen tables, as this is not our focus for Boracay. We hope it’ll become a truly good tourism spot and return it to the beautiful island it once was. This is very different to what is being said out there.

“We’re waiting for the final decision from the government as to how it wants to develop Boracay. We will follow their directive to achieve their goal.”

RelatedPosts

Hann Resorts founder Dae Sik Han says IPO essential to ensure no delays to Clark expansion plans

Hann Resorts founder Dae Sik Han says IPO essential to ensure no delays to Clark expansion plans

Mon 4 Aug 2025 at 06:02
Philippine government insists President Marcos won’t “act in haste” on calls to ban online gaming

Philippine government insists President Marcos won’t “act in haste” on calls to ban online gaming

Mon 4 Aug 2025 at 05:55
Invitational NUSTAR Golf Tournament 2025 attracts 120 players

Invitational NUSTAR Golf Tournament 2025 attracts 120 players

Thu 31 Jul 2025 at 11:37
PAGCOR to slash license fees charged to Philippine IR operators on online gaming GGR to new low of 25%

PAGCOR’s net income up 64% to US$188 million in first six months of 2025

Wed 30 Jul 2025 at 17:05
Load More
Tags: Boracay Inter-Agency Task ForceDuterteGalaxyPAGCORPhilippines
Share22Share1
Newsdesk

Newsdesk

The IAG Newsdesk team comprises some of the most experienced journalists in the Asian gaming industry. Offering a broad range of expertise, their decades of combined know-how spans multiple countries across a variety of topics.

Current Issue

Editorial – Better late than never

Editorial – Better late than never

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 31 Jul 2025 at 07:13

Inside Asian Gaming has in recent weeks been hearing increasing chatter around a possible move by Vietnamese authorities to introduce...

Angel’s Yasushi Shigeta

Angel’s Yasushi Shigeta

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 31 Jul 2025 at 07:08

Yasushi Shigeta, Chairman and owner of one of the world’s largest gaming industry suppliers, Angel Group, sits down with Inside...

The Magic Number

The Magic Number

by David Bonnet
Thu 31 Jul 2025 at 06:41

In this in-depth deep dive into the evolution of the Asian gaming landscape, David Bonnet argues that many regional jurisdictions...

Rashid Suliman – A road well traveled

Rashid Suliman – A road well traveled

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 31 Jul 2025 at 02:45

Rashid Suliman, Vice President of Global Gaming Asia-Pacific for casino solutions provider TransAct Technologies, provides some insight into his unique...

Evolution Asia
Your browser does not support HTML5 video.
Aristocrat
GLI
Nustar
SABA
Mindslot
Solaire
Hann
Tecnet
HKUST
NWR

Related Posts

Hann Resorts founder Dae Sik Han says IPO essential to ensure no delays to Clark expansion plans

Hann Resorts founder Dae Sik Han says IPO essential to ensure no delays to Clark expansion plans

by Ben Blaschke
Mon 4 Aug 2025 at 06:02

The Chairman and CEO of Hann Philippines Inc, Dae Sik Han, has revealed he opted to proceed with an initial public offering on the Philippine Stock Exchange to ensure his ambitious expansion plans could proceed without delay. Hann, the parent...

Philippine government insists President Marcos won’t “act in haste” on calls to ban online gaming

Philippine government insists President Marcos won’t “act in haste” on calls to ban online gaming

by Newsdesk
Mon 4 Aug 2025 at 05:55

The Presidential Palace has insisted that President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr will not act in haste in assessing whether or not ban the Philippines’ online gaming – also known as remote gaming or eGames – industry. The comments from Palace...

Jeju Dream Tower sets new records for casino drop, sales and visitation in July

Jeju Dream Tower sets new records for casino drop, sales and visitation in July

by Newsdesk
Sun 3 Aug 2025 at 12:47

Korea’s Jeju Dream Tower registered yet another all-time record in casino drop and visitation in July, continuing an impressive six month stretch of growth. According to information from the property’s parent company Lotte Tour, July visitation reached 56,691 – up...

Melco awarded 20-year license to operate City of Dreams Sri Lanka

As City of Dreams Sri Lanka celebrates official opening, Melco’s Lawrence Ho says Sri Lanka “can be to India what Macau is to China”

by Ben Blaschke
Sun 3 Aug 2025 at 10:46

City of Dreams Sri Lanka, the joint venture between Macau’s Melco Resorts & Entertainment and local developer John Keells Holdings, held its Grand Opening on Saturday – celebrating what the companies have described as a “landmark national transformation”. Located within...

Your browser does not support the video tag.


IAG

© 2005-2025
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • NEWSFEED
  • MAG ARTICLES
  • VIDEO
  • OPINION
  • TAGS
  • REGIONAL
  • EVENTS
  • CONSULTING
  • CONTRIBUTORS
  • MAGAZINES
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • ADVERTISE

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • Subscribe
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • Magazines
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • About
  • Home for G2E Asia

© 2005-2025
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • English