The tropical paradise of Boracay in the Philippines now boasts a new casino. The opening of this boutique gaming hotel comes after years of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte promising that casinos would never be allowed in this idyllic vacation spot during his tenure.
Kaban Hotel and Casino is scheduled for a soft opening on Wednesday, September 16th, with a grand opening planned for October 11, 2026. Situated on Boracay Highway in the northwest corner of the island, Kaban offers views of Punta Bunga Beach, Mövenpick, and Crimson five-star resorts and spas.
Golden TW Realty and Development Corporation, a Philippine-based company specializing in hospitality, entertainment, and retail projects, is the driving force behind the development of Kaban.
The majority owner of Golden TW is Zibin Liang, a Chinese national who became a naturalized Filipino citizen in 2021. Liang’s wealth comes from the financial sector and his role in leading Top Bank, a rural bank in the Philippines.
Boracay Casino
Kaban Hotel and Casino boasts a boutique casino featuring 150 slot machines, 10 live dealer table games, and VIP gaming rooms. Compared to the large integrated resort casinos in Manila, which have thousands of slots and hundreds of table games, Kaban is more compact in size.
Aside from gaming, Kaban also includes an 88-room hotel, six dining establishments and bars, a rooftop bar, and an indoor swimming pool. Additionally, the resort offers facilities for small conferences and social events.
Operated under a license from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), Kaban Casino is restricted to guests who are 21 years old and above. The gaming area features modern slot machines and electronic gaming devices.
Limited Casino Expansion
In 2017, Boracay was a target for Galaxy Entertainment, one of the biggest gaming companies globally, for the development of an integrated resort.
Galaxy, a major operator in Macau, proposed a $550 million investment for a Las Vegas-style complex on the island, a popular destination for both Filipinos and international tourists from South Korea and China.
However, Duterte, the controversial former president of the Philippines, put a stop to the Galaxy project. Claiming divine intervention, Duterte cancelled the project, stating that the Filipino people did not want a casino on Boracay.
You know the billionaires? They want to build casinos there. I did not allow it,” Duterte said, referring to Galaxy billionaire Lui Che Woo.
Subsequently, Boracay endured a six-month closure for environmental cleanup, as Duterte deemed the island a polluted and unsanitary location.
Genting, another casino operator, also scrapped its plans for Boracay.
Under the administration of Duterte’s successor, Bongbong Marcos, offshore gambling faced stringent restrictions. However, domestic casinos were permitted to expand. Kaban Hotel and Casino is just the beginning of what is expected to be multiple small casinos opening on Boracay in the years ahead.