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Albee Benitez
Alfredo Abelardo "Albee" Bantug Benitez (born December 20, 1966) is a Filipino politician and businessman who has served as the representative for Bacolod's lone district since 2025. He previously served as the 43rd mayor of Bacolod from 2022 to 2025 and as the representative for Negros Occidental's third district from 2010 to 2019.
Benitez began his career as a business executive in the gambling industry. He founded Bingo Bonanza in 1993 and AB Leisure in 1994. The two companies became subsidiaries of Leisure & Resorts World Corp., (now DigiPlus) which Benitez would later be the president of from 2005 to 2010 before divesting his business interests to enter politics. He returned to is board of directors in 2019 until 2021 and was the majority shareholder of the company for several years.
Benitez entered the House of Representatives in 2010. During his tenure, he was among the wealthiest members of Congress. In 2018, he was the second-wealthiest member of Congress, amassing a net worth of ₱1.23 billion. He sought the mayoralty of Bacolod in 2022 and won, defeating incumbent mayor Evelio Leonardia. After serving one term, Benitez sought a return to Congress as the representative of Bacolod's lone district.
Benitez was born on December 20, 1966, in Palo Alto, California, United States, to Jose Conrado Benitez who previously served as Deputy Minister of Human Settlements and Betty Bantug, both from Negros Occidental. He went to La Salle Green Hills for primary and secondary education. He then enrolled at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, and completed a mathematics degree.
Benitez established Bingo Bonanza Corporation (wherein he was president and CEO) in 1993 and AB Leisure Exponent Inc. (ABLE) in 1994—the latter owning the former. The companies operated bingo parlors throughout the country and later, electronic bingo as well. As of 2001 and 2006, Bingo Bonanza was the largest bingo operator in the Philippines with a 50% market share.
In 1999, the holding company Leisure and Resorts World Corp. (LRWC) acquired ABLE as its wholly owned subsidiary. In 2005, Benitez, then-president of ABLE and a director of LRWC, sold his ₱4.38 million worth of shares in First Cagayan Leisure & Resort Corp. to LRWC. This allowed LRWC to acquire 35% of First Cagayan, the master licensor for online gambling in the Cagayan Special Economic Zone. Benitez became president of LRWC on October 10, 2005. By the end of 2005, LRWC posted a net income of ₱64.1 million and as of mid-2006, LRWC owned 70% of First Cagayan. LRWC then posted a net income of ₱167.9 million for 2007. Benitez stepped down as president of LRWC on June 25, 2010, when he divested himself from his business interests just before starting his term in Congress. However, he remained the company's majority owner.
In July 2019, after completing three consecutive terms in Congress, Benitez returned to LRWC as its chairman. He later became director and committee member until he resigned again in October 2021 to run for mayor of Bacolod. He initially continued to be the company's majority owner, but gradually sold his shares in the company in the succeeding years and lost his majority ownership. In February 2023, LRWC changed its name to DigiPlus Interactive Corporation. At that time, aside from Bingo Bonanza, ABLE, and First Cagayan, its other subsidiaries included Total Gamezone Xtreme Inc., Blue Chip Gaming and Leisure Corp., LR Data Center Solutions Inc., AB Leisure Global Inc., LR Land Developers Inc., Prime Investment Korea Inc., and Hotel Enterprises of the Philippines Inc. By 2024, DigiPlus Interactive's flagship brands were BingoPlus, ArenaPlus, and GameZone. In April 2025, he sold ₱332 million worth of DigiPlus Interactive shares. He retained his 8.35% stake in the company, worth an estimated ₱17.6 billion.
In June 2021, his company Visayas Cockers Club Inc., doing business as Sabong International PH, was one of the four companies licensed to operate online cockfighting ("e-sabong"). However, by May 2022, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered all e-sabong operations to be suspended.
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Albee Benitez
Alfredo Abelardo "Albee" Bantug Benitez (born December 20, 1966) is a Filipino politician and businessman who has served as the representative for Bacolod's lone district since 2025. He previously served as the 43rd mayor of Bacolod from 2022 to 2025 and as the representative for Negros Occidental's third district from 2010 to 2019.
Benitez began his career as a business executive in the gambling industry. He founded Bingo Bonanza in 1993 and AB Leisure in 1994. The two companies became subsidiaries of Leisure & Resorts World Corp., (now DigiPlus) which Benitez would later be the president of from 2005 to 2010 before divesting his business interests to enter politics. He returned to is board of directors in 2019 until 2021 and was the majority shareholder of the company for several years.
Benitez entered the House of Representatives in 2010. During his tenure, he was among the wealthiest members of Congress. In 2018, he was the second-wealthiest member of Congress, amassing a net worth of ₱1.23 billion. He sought the mayoralty of Bacolod in 2022 and won, defeating incumbent mayor Evelio Leonardia. After serving one term, Benitez sought a return to Congress as the representative of Bacolod's lone district.
Benitez was born on December 20, 1966, in Palo Alto, California, United States, to Jose Conrado Benitez who previously served as Deputy Minister of Human Settlements and Betty Bantug, both from Negros Occidental. He went to La Salle Green Hills for primary and secondary education. He then enrolled at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, and completed a mathematics degree.
Benitez established Bingo Bonanza Corporation (wherein he was president and CEO) in 1993 and AB Leisure Exponent Inc. (ABLE) in 1994—the latter owning the former. The companies operated bingo parlors throughout the country and later, electronic bingo as well. As of 2001 and 2006, Bingo Bonanza was the largest bingo operator in the Philippines with a 50% market share.
In 1999, the holding company Leisure and Resorts World Corp. (LRWC) acquired ABLE as its wholly owned subsidiary. In 2005, Benitez, then-president of ABLE and a director of LRWC, sold his ₱4.38 million worth of shares in First Cagayan Leisure & Resort Corp. to LRWC. This allowed LRWC to acquire 35% of First Cagayan, the master licensor for online gambling in the Cagayan Special Economic Zone. Benitez became president of LRWC on October 10, 2005. By the end of 2005, LRWC posted a net income of ₱64.1 million and as of mid-2006, LRWC owned 70% of First Cagayan. LRWC then posted a net income of ₱167.9 million for 2007. Benitez stepped down as president of LRWC on June 25, 2010, when he divested himself from his business interests just before starting his term in Congress. However, he remained the company's majority owner.
In July 2019, after completing three consecutive terms in Congress, Benitez returned to LRWC as its chairman. He later became director and committee member until he resigned again in October 2021 to run for mayor of Bacolod. He initially continued to be the company's majority owner, but gradually sold his shares in the company in the succeeding years and lost his majority ownership. In February 2023, LRWC changed its name to DigiPlus Interactive Corporation. At that time, aside from Bingo Bonanza, ABLE, and First Cagayan, its other subsidiaries included Total Gamezone Xtreme Inc., Blue Chip Gaming and Leisure Corp., LR Data Center Solutions Inc., AB Leisure Global Inc., LR Land Developers Inc., Prime Investment Korea Inc., and Hotel Enterprises of the Philippines Inc. By 2024, DigiPlus Interactive's flagship brands were BingoPlus, ArenaPlus, and GameZone. In April 2025, he sold ₱332 million worth of DigiPlus Interactive shares. He retained his 8.35% stake in the company, worth an estimated ₱17.6 billion.
In June 2021, his company Visayas Cockers Club Inc., doing business as Sabong International PH, was one of the four companies licensed to operate online cockfighting ("e-sabong"). However, by May 2022, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered all e-sabong operations to be suspended.