Gaming-linked business leaders featured on Forbes’ 2026 list of the Philippines’ 50 richest people. This list was led by Bloomberry Resorts chairman Enrique Razon Jr., who retained the top position with an estimated fortune of $21.8 billion.
Razon’s wealth nearly doubled from the previous year. But Forbes attributed most of the increased performance to International Container Terminal Services rather than his gaming interests.
Through Bloomberry Resorts, Razon operates Solaire Resort Entertainment City and Solaire Resort North, two of the Philippines’ best-known integrated resorts. The result underlines how closely casino investment is connected to the wider tourism, hospitality and entertainment economy.
Sy, Gokongwei and Tan families retain strong gaming links
The Sy siblings ranked second with a combined fortune of $9.2 billion. Their interests sit within the SM Group, while gaming exposure comes through Belle Corp and Premium Leisure Corp, partners in City of Dreams Manila.
Lance Gokongwei and his siblings placed 13th with an estimated $1.9 billion. The family is linked to Cebu’s NUSTAR Resort and Casino through Universal Hotels and Resorts. Gokongwei has also expanded into gaming technology after investing around $33 million in PhilWeb, taking a strategic stake and later joining the company’s board.
Alliance Global Group chairman Andrew Tan ranked 14th with an estimated fortune of $1.8 billion. Alliance Global controls Travellers International Hotel Group, operator of Newport World Resorts in Manila.
Online gaming also contributes to major corporate fortunes
DigiPlus Interactive chairman Eusebio Tanco ranked 20th with an estimated fortune of $735 million. DigiPlus is one of the Philippines’ largest licensed online gaming operators, with businesses across digital gaming and betting. Tanco’s interests also include insurance, education, energy, logistics and real estate.
The rankings highlight the gaming sector’s place within some of the country’s largest corporate groups, but they also show that gambling is rarely the only source of wealth.
This distinction is clear in Razon’s case, with Bloomberry giving him one of the most recognisable casino portfolios in the country. Forbes pointed to his ports business when explaining his rise.
Combined wealth falls despite gaming sector representation
Forbes reported that the combined wealth of the Philippines’ 50 richest people fell 8.1% year-on-year to $79 billion.
The decline came amid inflation of the Philippine peso, which weighed on overall fortunes across the ranking. Despite this fall, gaming is strongly represented among the country’s wealthiest business leaders.
Integrated resorts in Manila and Cebu, online gaming platforms and gaming technology businesses all feature within the portfolios of individuals near the top of the list.
Gaming’s presence on the Philippines rich list shows the sector’s deep connection to the country’s biggest hospitality and entertainment groups. What stands out is that gaming is often much larger than their other businesses. Therefore, this gives the operators more financial strength and room for investment.
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