Inside Asian Gaming

IAG NOV 2022年11月 亞博匯 114 26-50 FOUNDER Leisure & Resorts World Corp 創始人 Leisure & Resorts World Corp CLAIMS TO FAME 名成事跡 POWER SCORE 權能指數: 555 POSITION LAST YEAR 去年排名: ONES TO WATCH 未來焦點 Founded LRWC as Bingo Bonanza Corporation Former Southeast Asian Games silver medalist in water skiing 以Bingo Bonanza Corporation創立LRWC 前東南亞運動會滑水銀牌得主 ALFREDO “ALBEE” BENITEZ 48 THE MAJORITY OWNER of Manila-based gaming firm Leisure & Resorts World Corp (LRWC), Alfredo Abelardo B. Benitez – more commonly known as “Albee” – stepped down from the Board of Directors last year to run for Mayor of Bacolod on the Philippines island of Negros. That run proved successful and Benitez now finds himself holding office yet again, having previously served as a congressman representing the province of Negros Occidental. Yet his influence at LRWC remains given his status as the largest individual shareholder of the family-owned business. Described as “one of the richest congressmen in the Philippines”, Benitez made his fortune in gaming, having founded Bingo Bonanza Corporation which he later listed as LRWC – a diversified gaming company whose interests include bingo, leasing slot machines and the operation of slot arcades on behalf of PAGCOR. The company has also previously announced plans to develop a US$500 million casino resort on Boracay – initially said to be in conjunction with Macau’s Galaxy Entertainment Group – although any such partnership appears to be in limbo. LRWC, whose recent interests include the launch of an online sportsbook for local users, also raised US$40 million via a private placement in March to expand its online gaming capabilities. 作為以 馬尼拉為基地的博彩公司 Leisure & Resorts World Corp (LRWC) 的主要擁有人，比較為外界以「Albee」之名所認識的Alfredo Abelardo B. Benitez，就在去年退出LRWC董事局，並參選菲律賓內格羅斯(Negros)島 上巴科羅(Bacolod)市的市長。 Benitez最後在該次選舉中獲勝，繼他在之前代表東內格羅斯(Negros Occidental)省出任國會議員後，再次擔任公職。 可是，他作為LRWC的最大獨立股東，在這份家族生意中的影響力依 然存在。被形容為「其中一位最富有的菲律賓國會議員」的Benitez，從前 在博彩生意中，賺到他的第一桶金。他創立了Bingo Bonanza Corporation， 並以LRWC之名上市。該公司是一間多元化博彩企業，業務包括賓果和角 子機租賃，也有為PAGCOR營運角子機中心。 該公司此前還曾宣佈，計劃在長灘島發展一間投資5億美元的娛樂場 度假村——初期據稱與澳門的銀河娛樂集團合作——但目前處於尚不明朗 的狀態。 LRWC最近就開設了一項為當地人而設的網上體育投注服務。該公司 也在三月通過私募籌得4千萬美元，用來擴充其網上博彩業務。