Boracay Gets First Casino After Years of Duterte Opposition

The Philippine island of Boracay, long positioned as a pristine vacation destination, is entering the gaming market with the soft opening of Kaban Hotel and Casino on September 16, 2026. The boutique property represents a significant policy shift for an island that faced nearly a decade of anti-casino positioning under former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Duterte's 2017 rejection of Galaxy Entertainment's proposed $550 million integrated resort reflected his controversial stance on gaming expansion. At the time, Duterte famously claimed divine intervention in his decision, stating that God told him the Philippine people did not want a casino on Boracay. Beyond blocking the Galaxy bid, Duterte's government subsequently closed the island for a six-month cleanup initiative, citing severe sanitary infrastructure problems.

Kaban represents a markedly different approach to gaming development. The property, developed by Philippines-based Golden TW Realty and Development Corporation (controlled by Chinese national-turned-Philippine citizen Zibin Liang), takes a scaled-back approach compared to the massive integrated resort model Galaxy proposed. The venue features 150 slot machines, 10 live-dealer table games, VIP gaming areas, an 88-room hotel, and hospitality amenities including six restaurants and bars. Licensed by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), Kaban operates under strict age restrictions (21 and older) and is positioned as a boutique gaming experience rather than a destination mega-resort.

The property's location in northwestern Boracay, overlooking Punta Bunga Beach near five-star developments, signals an upscale positioning strategy. The full opening is scheduled for October 11, 2026, following the September 16 soft launch.

Current Philippine President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos has adopted a different gaming policy than his predecessor. While maintaining a hardline against offshore gambling (which Duterte permissively allowed), Marcos has demonstrated openness to domestic casino expansion. Industry observers expect Kaban to be the first of several smaller casinos planned for Boracay over coming years, suggesting a deliberate strategy of incremental gaming market development rather than the large-scale integration Galaxy proposed.

The project reflects broader shifts in Philippine gaming policy and regional competitive positioning. Unlike Macau's six major operators or Manila's massive integrated resorts with thousands of slots and hundreds of tables, Boracay's boutique casino model represents an emerging tier of gaming venues targeting specific geographic markets and demographics. CasinoAdvisor data indicates growing interest among Asian operators in mid-scale properties positioned within leisure-tourism ecosystems rather than dedicated gaming destinations, a strategy Kaban appears to exemplify. Whether Boracay's gaming market ultimately matches the ambitious scale Galaxy envisioned remains uncertain, though the shift from absolute prohibition to regulated licensing suggests market dynamics have substantially changed since Duterte's tenure.