46 Chan Meng Kam
PRESIDENT
Golden Dragon Group
POWER SCORE: 595
POSITION LAST YEAR: 45
CLAIMS TO FAME
Former member of Macau’s Legislative Assembly
One of the city’s biggest property owners
Renowned as one of Macau’s richest men – with a property portfolio in the hundreds – Chan Meng Kam has long had one foot in the city’s gaming business via Golden Dragon Group, owner and operator of Casino Golden Dragon. It was the success of Casino Golden Dragon that propelled Chan’s property and business interests but – putting aside rumors he has long held great industry influence behind the scenes – it wasn’t until 2017 that he openly began expanding his gaming interests. In late September last year, Golden Dragon Group surprised many when it launched a new casino, Royal Dragon, under the license of SJM despite the government’s famed 2008 Moratorium supposedly ruling out any such new satellite agreements being approved. Royal Dragon opened with 20 gaming tables moved by SJM from nearby Oceanus.
Chan then surprised again in October 2017 when it was announced that he had signed a sale and purchase agreement to acquire another downtown hotel and casino, Hotel Lan Kwai Fong, for HK$2 billion. That purchase was completed in January 2018. Clearly the former member of Macau’s Legislative Assembly has big plans within the industry, including the development of a new two-star hotel in Cotai and a possible bid for a seventh Macau gaming license in the coming years. A member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and hugely influential figure among Macau’s Fujian community, Chan served three terms as a Macau lawmaker between 2005 and 2017 before announcing he was stepping down from official government duties ahead of this year’s election.
For the full list of 2018 Asian Gaming Power 50 winners, click here.
