Galaxy Entertainment Group Denies Plans for Boracay Island Casino Resort

Galaxy Entertainment Group has officially denied any intentions of returning to Boracay Island in the Philippines for the development of a casino resort, dispelling rumors that had been circulating. The company issued a concise statement late on Monday, clarifying its position on the matter.

The speculations emerged due to comments made by Alfredo Benitez, the founder of DigiPlus Interactive Corp, who encouraged Galaxy to reconsider their plans for Boracay. DigiPlus had previously been Galaxy's local partner for a planned $500 million casino resort project on the island. However, this endeavor was halted in 2018 when then-president Duterte prohibited casino construction on Boracay, following a comprehensive island-wide cleanup.

Although Benitez resigned as the president of DigiPlus in 2021 to run for mayor of Bacolod City, he still holds the majority of shares. He suggested that the current administration, under Marcos, might be more open to welcoming new investors into the country.

Galaxy Entertainment's statement unequivocally puts an end to the recent media reports suggesting their interest in the Boracay project, stating that they are not presently considering it.

The company's strategic focus remains on Macau, particularly the ongoing development of its Galaxy Macau property. This announcement aligns with their financial recovery, as seen in the Q2 financial report, where they reported a remarkable 257% year-on-year increase in revenue, amounting to HK$8.7 billion. As a result, Galaxy Entertainment is concentrating on its Phase 3 development program in the Special Administrative Region and advancing to Phase 4, the next stage of their project.