Race to the top

The countdown is on to the announcement of this year’s Asian Gaming Power 50, to take place at the Parisian Ballroom in The Parisian Macao on Friday 6 November.

Inside Asian Gaming will announce this year’s Asian Gaming Power 50 at a Black Tie Gala Dinner to be held at the Parisian Ballroom at The Parisian Macao on Friday 6 November. This will be the 13th straight year in which IAG has compiled the Asian Gaming Power 50, renowned as the definitive guide to the most influential people in the Asian gaming industry over a 12-month period. The “Power 50” list will also be revealed in full in the November issue of IAG, which will be released to the public at the conclusion of the Black Tie Gala Dinner.

As always, the countdown is now on to see who will be crowned the most influential figure in Asian gaming in 2020. Last year, Galaxy Entertainment Group Vice Chairman Francis Lui ended the six-year winning streak of Las Vegas Sands Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson to claim top spot – the third time he had claimed the top spot and a first since 2012. They are two of only four men to have occupied the top spot since IAG first named the Asian Gaming Power 50 in 2008, with Genting Group boss KT Lim the only one of those to have done so without operating a casino in Macau.

The No.1 position over the course of the past 12 years has been awarded as follows:

2008: Dr Stanley Ho
2009: Tan Sri KT Lim
2010: Mr Sheldon Adelson
2011 and 2012: Mr Francis Lui
2013 to 2018: Mr Sheldon Adelson
2019: Mr Francis Lui

This year’s Asian Gaming Power 50 will be selected by a panel of some of the industry’s most experienced minds, including Mr David Green, former gaming regulator with the Independent Gambling Authority in South Australia and CEO at Newpage Consulting; Constance Hsu, Director of Cheng Ying Group and former President of Mocha Clubs; Professor Desmond Lam, Professor in Integrated Resort and Tourism Management at the University of Macau; Rui Pinto Proença, Corporate and Gaming Practice Partner at MdME Lawyers; and Michael Zhu, Senior Vice President of International Operations Planning and Analysis for The Innovation Group.

Inside Asian Gaming CEO Andrew W Scott, Managing Editor Ben Blaschke and Editor-at-Large Muhammed Cohen are also on the judging panel, while joining the panel for the first time is Managing Director of Yeewood Consultancy Ltd Melina Leong, whose impressive resume includes previous roles as Chief Operating Officer at Cotai Water Jet, SVP of Public Relations and Community Affairs at Sands China Limited and head of corporate communications for both the Macao Telecommunications Company (CTM) and Macau International Airport.

With a theme of “Standing Together in 2020,” the Asian Gaming Power 50 Black Tie Gala Dinner represents an opportunity for the industry to come together again in recognition of a year none of us will ever forget. It is likely to be the only major social event of its type in 2020.

While Macau stands as a shining beacon to the world in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic – having now not had a single community transmitted case since April – IAG is conscious of the fact that safety remains top priority and has devised a list of arrangements to be applied at the 2020 Asian Gaming Power 50 Gala Dinner. These include:

Standard Macau health declaration required for all guests
Attendance strictly limited to guests who declare they have not left Macau in the previous 14 days (24 October to 6 November 2020)
To minimize non-essential staffing, only the red carpet portion will be live streamed
Substantial and expanded spacing between tables, allowing ample walkways
Tables designed for 12 to 14 guests will seat a maximum of eight guests per table
Capacity strictly limited to 240 people (compared with 310 in 2019): the head table of 16 guests and 28 tables of 8 guests.
Gala Dinner will finish at 10pm sharp
The official after-party will be strictly limited in number

“Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, we feel the time is right to bring the industry together once again to celebrate Macau’s achievements in tough circumstances in 2020,” said IAG Vice Chairman and CEO Andrew W Scott.

“The Asian Gaming Power 50 plays an important role in helping to defining the industry every year and is anxiously awaited each November.

“This is the 13th straight year of the Asian Gaming Power 50 and we didn’t want the disappointment of yet another cancelled event. We thank our friends at Sands China for their wonderful support in this difficult time.”

The Asian Gaming Power 50 Black Tie Gala Dinner will see IAG count down this year’s “Big 50” while guests enjoy a fine dining meal, lively entertainment and the company of many industry peers and influencers. The list will be announced in a variety of interesting ways by renowned VIPs and government officials.

Thanks goes to our current sponsors and supporters: Sands China as Venue Sponsor and The Parisian Macao as Venue, Solaire Resorts & Casino as Welcome Cocktails Sponsor, Macau Beer as Beer Sponsor, and Aristocrat, Scientific Games and Suncity Group as Platinum Sponsors.

For sponsorship or ticketing inquiries, please contact Jadeson Ho on +853 6331 5577 or at jh@staging.asgam.com. Details of the sponsorship opportunities available can be found at www.iagpower50.com.