Willie Revillame: Yes, I gambled at casinos, but I’m not broke

Willie Revillame. PHOTO from Wowowin’s Facebook Page

ACTOR and TV host Willie Revillame admitted on Sunday that he had indeed staked his wealth in casinos, but he denied rumors that he’s slowly losing his fortune and had to sell some of his properties to fund his gambling habit.

“Nagkakasino yes, tatanggapin kong totoo ‘yan..naglibang lang ako sa buhay ko, pinakiramdaman ko lang kung anong meron..kasi hindi ako sanay diyan eh. Oo nagsugal ako…pero part ng buhay ng tao ‘yan…pero hindi ako magpapaubos sa casino,” Willie told Jessica Soho, in the latest episode of news magazine television show “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho.”

“Pero tinigilan ko na ‘yan kasi nga una, bawal na ngayon sa ‘kin gawin yan eh …kasi in my contract with GMA…hindi na pwede ..sa sarili ko na rin sinabi ko..kasi panget eh,” he said.

After almost two-year respite from his showbiz career, Willie will be making his big comeback on the airwaves next month as the host of the new game show “Wowowin” on GMA 7.

Willie is a blocktimer on the network. He would be buying his airtime by paying the network P2 million every week.

“Hindi mo mage-gauge ang pagkatao mo sa pera eh..hindi ako sa bilyonaryo or milyonaryo…aanhin mo lahat ng perang ‘yan kung paglabas mo dyan eh walang nagmamahal sa’yo…sa akin hindi ko dyos ang pera,” Willie said when asked whether he is a billionaire or a millionaire.

Willie also gave a message to those who may misinterpret his talking openly about his wealth.

“Sana maintindihan nila na hindi ko naman po ninakaw ang perang ito eh..pinaghirapan ko naman po ito at ang perang ito ay ginagastos ko sa sarili kong kung baga happiness.”

Denying that he has gone poor, Willie showed on national television his five-hectare property in Tagaytay he bought in 2010 from the Madrigal family, which is worth more than P130 million.

He plans to turn the property into a five-star resort and hotel.

Willie said he spent P160 million for the house alone, which overlooks the Taal Lake and Laguna. It also has music room, sauna, gym, swimming pool and view deck.

He also owns a nearby 3.5-hectare property, aside from the three posh villas in Tagaytay Highlands.

Meanwhile, Willie’s mansion in Ayala Heights, houses the P45-million painting of the National Artist Benedicto Cabrera, five bed rooms, swimming pool and many imported furniture.

The property, formerly owned by Gabby Lopez, reportedly costs P400 million.

Willie also flaunted his toys— two Rolls-Royce, worth P38 million and P35 million respectively, and a Ferrari worth P29 million.

He also kept his P18-million yacht and his airplane, while the four floors of Wil Tower in Quezon City remained under his name. AC