Aside from the 50 people that made our final list and the many others we considered, a handful stood out as particularly worthy of mention. These are usually people whose star is on the rise or who are in a company worth keeping an eye, however in some cases they are people worth watching simply because they are in the news and attracting media attention – not always for the right reasons!
GEOFF ANDRES
Property President
City of Dreams Manila
HAVING PREVIOUSLY run City of Dreams Manila as Property President from November 2015 to February 2018, Geoff Andres returned to his previous role in early 2021 in a swap deal with fellow Melco Resorts executive Kevin Benning, who is now at Macau’s Studio City. Most of that time has been spent ensuring the Manila IR complies with the city’s strict COVID-19 pandemic measures, however Andres now also leads Melco’s broader recovery trajectory, with City of Dreams Manila soaring back to profit in the June 2022 quarter on a 112% year-on-year and 28.5% quarter-on-quarter rise in revenues to US$111.7 million.
ED BOWERS
President and CEO
MGM Resorts Japan
HOLDING THE DUAL ROLES of President of Global Development for MGM Resorts and President and CEO of its subsidiary MGM Resorts Japan, Ed Bowers could well be last man standing in Japan with the company expected to win a license – perhaps Japan’s only one – to develop an integrated resort in Osaka. Such success would prove the culmination of a decade’s work for Bowers, with MGM having seen off local interest from every major IR developer on the planet while overcoming a mountain of regulatory and political hurdles. Assuming MGM wins a license, its Osaka IR is expected to open in 2029 at a cost of over US$9 billion.
MELINDA CHAN
CEO and Executive Director
Macau Legend
THE JANUARY ARREST of company Chairman Levo Chan and the recent retirement of her husband, David Chow, due to ill-health have seen Melinda Chan assume greater personal control over Macau Legend, appointed CEO as she was February and Executive Director in August. The former member of Macau’s Legislative Assembly has plenty to worry about, however, with Macau Legend warning in September of “material uncertainties” around its future. The company no longer runs casino operations at the two casinos located within its Macau Fisherman’s Wharf precinct, although it still operates Laos casino Savan Legend.
CLARENCE CHUNG
Executive Director
Melco International Development
A FORMER investment banker and M&A specialist, Clarence Chung has been part of the Melco team for almost 20 years. Joining Melco International Development in 2003 before becoming a director in 2006, he is also a director of Melco Resorts, Melco Resorts (Philippines) and Studio City International. Previously Chairman and President of the company’s Philippines entity overseeing City of Dreams Manila, he is now back in Macau and was last year handed the task of overseeing Melco’s interest in a multi-billion-dollar, mixed-use residential, entertainment and hospitality complex in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province.
ROBERT COOKE
Managing Director and CEO
Star Entertainment Group
FORMER TATTS GROUP boss Robert Cooke has plenty on his plate after being named the man to turn embattled Australian casino operator Star Entertainment Group’s fortunes around. With inquiries in NSW and Queensland now complete – the company was found unsuitable to hold its casinos licenses in both states – his tenure begins under the watch of independent managers. Fortunately his previous role with Tatts saw him in constant communication with government. He has also worked with Wotif.com and at Australian bank and payment fintech, Tyro Payments.
HAKAN DAGTAS
Chief Operating Officer
Newport World Resorts
VETERAN NEWPORT WORLD RESORTS executive Hakan Dagtas first joined the gaming and hospitality industry during his college years, working in various casinos in Turkey before taking up a position with Star Cruises in 1996. He moved to Newport World Resorts, then known as Resorts World Manila, in 2008 where he was part of the pre-opening team before continuing with operations and leading both the Table Games and Slots divisions. From 2013, he began working with RWM’s marketing teams as well as overseeing all gaming across the property. He was named Chief Operating Officer earlier this year – continuing his steady rise through the ranks.
SOO KIM
Chairman
Bally’s Corporation
A NEW ENTRANT to our list in 2022, Soo Kim and Bally’s Corp were thrust into the Asian gaming limelight earlier this year when it was claimed the company would stage a late bid to develop an integrated resort in Fukuoka, Japan. Soo quickly quashed such talk but admitted Bally’s is indeed interested in the Japan market for future rounds of bidding. IAG understands the company is also exploring other opportunities in the region. Bally’s currently operates 16 casinos in 11 US states and online gaming courtesy of its £2 billion (US$2.7 billion) acquisition of UK-based Gamesys Group plc in October 2021.
ANDREW LO
Chairman
LET Group Holdings
ANDREW LO has risen to become the number one man of Hong Kong-listed LET Group Holdings, formerly Suncity Group, since the arrest of his boss Alvin Chau last November. Lo, previously the company’s Chief Investment Officer, has also acquired Chau’s shareholding, although LET remains in considerable debt as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Its assets include interests in Vietnam integrated resort Hoiana, Tigre de Cristal in Russia and a major casino-hotel development in Manila’s Entertainment City.
EILEEN LUI
Human Resources and Administration Director
Galaxy Entertainment Group
GALAXY’S Human Resources and Administration Director Eileen Lui is also the daughter of GEG Chairman Lui Che Woo and sister of Vice Chairman Francis Lui. An accomplished businesswoman in her own right, her portfolio is wide-ranging and Ms Lui would often find herself the most senior family member in the building – important for a business which is ultimately a family affair. She is also a member of the Zhuhai Committee of the 7th Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.
FREDERIC LUVISUTTO
COO and Executive Director
Wynn Macau
THE FORMER Chief Operating Officer of Wynn Palace has been given his chance to shine as Wynn’s main man on the ground in Macau following the recent departures of Ian Michael Coughlan and Ciarán Carruthers. Aged 50, Luvisutto has been COO of Wynn Palace since 2014, tasked with overseeing all operations, including gaming. His extensive career has seen him previously serve as Managing Director of The Star Sydney and Jupiters Resort and Casino – now The Star Gold Coast – and hold senior positions at MGM Grand and at Monte Carlo Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
SANTIAGO MARTIN
Founding Chairman
Martin Group of Companies
KNOWN AS India’s “Lottery King”, Santiago Martin made his fortune printing and selling lottery tickets in Tamil Nadu in 1988, gradually expanding to Karnataka and Kerala and then further afield. After forging lottery deals with local governments, he expanded further to Bhutan and Nepal, winning a monopoly over lottery ticket distribution. His lottery success, built under the Martin Lottery brand, ultimately saw him establish the Martin Group of Companies, with interests in real estate, construction, agriculture, building materials, textiles, hospitality and media.
WILLY OCIER
Chairman and Executive Director
Belle Corp
AT 65 YEARS YOUNG, Willy Ocier has plenty on his plate. As Chairman and Executive Director of Belle Corp, he oversees the company’s partnership with Melco Resorts (Philippines) – a key driver of revenue given the resurgence of the Philippine gaming industry. Belle Corp owns the land upon which Melco’s City of Dreams Manila sits and as such draws both a percentage of GGR and rent from the land lease. Ocier is also Chairman and Director of Belle Corp’s other gaming entities – Premium Leisure Corp, APC Group, Inc, Pacific Online Systems Corporation, Total Gaming and Technologies, Inc and Premium Leisure and Amusement, Inc.
KAZUO OKADA
Founder
Universal Entertainment Corp
KAZUO OKADA’S long-running dispute with the company he founded took on a fascinating new turn in May when his representatives stormed and took control of Philippines integrated resort Okada Manila. Local authorities eventually returned the property to its previous Board of Directors, with both sides of the intra-corporate dispute subsequently taking legal action against the other. Mr Okada, for his part, spent this time outside of the Philippines but his decision to finally return in October saw him arrested by Manila police and charged with grave coercion. The next chapter in this thrilling saga awaits.
NG MAN SUN
Chairman and CEO
Century Entertainment
AN INFAMOUS FIGURE in the history of Macau gaming, Ng Man Sun played a key role in shaping the junket industry during its early and some might say darkest days – notwithstanding its recent collapse. He later held a controlling stake in Greek Mythology Casino at New Century Hotel via his company Amax International Holdings, although the casino has since been shuttered amid a dispute with operating entities. Amax has since changed its name to Century Entertainment International while Ng Man Sun has shifted focus to Cambodia where, despite persistent delays, he plans to open a new casino within the Chinese-backed Dara Sakor development.
ANDREW TAN
Chairman
Alliance Global Group
FOUNDED BY Andrew Tan in 1993, Alliance Global Group is co-owner of Travellers International Hotel Group – operator of Manila’s Newport World Resorts – and on track to become sole owner given its former partner Genting Hong Kong’s financial woes. Perfectly placed to capitalize on the Philippine gaming industry’s post-COVID rebound, Alliance is also interested in a new integrated resort development in Manila’s Entertainment City precinct. Tan himself is gradually easing his way out of the business, having handed the CEO role to his son Kevin back in 2018.
LAWRENCE TEO
COO and Executive Vice President
Lotte Tour Development
A FORMER EXECUTIVE with Melco Resorts during its Melco-Crown days, where he oversaw Altira Macau, Lawrence Teo has been charged with bringing much-needed gaming experience to South Korea’s Lotte Tour Development. His focus since arriving has been Jeju Dream Tower, a US$1.4 billion development that held a soft opening in December 2020 and added a new casino in June 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic has made the early going tough work, although Jeju Dream Tower promises to become quite the attraction as international tourists return.
ED TRACY
Chief Executive Officer
Hard Rock Asia
THE FORMER Sands China CEO and President became Hard Rock International’s CEO of Asia in 2017, tasked with expanding the company’s regional portfolio including the No.1 target of Japan. That opportunity looks lost for now with Japan’s IR plans in turmoil, although Hard Rock has maintained its interest in the hope that the industry might gain a second wind in the years ahead. The company was previously focused on Hokkaido, and word on the street has it that hope of such a revival remain very much on the cards.
KIM WONG
Owner
Oriential Group
THE CHINESE-FILIPINO MOGUL has his stamp all over the Philippine gaming industry, particularly in junket operations at the Midas casino and counting offshore-facing online operators such as Oriental Game among his Eastern Hawaii group of companies. Testament to his influence is his avoidance of serious fallout from Chinese media scrutiny of Oriental Game’s operations, and from the Bangladesh central bank e-heist at the New York Federal Reserve. Some US$81 million was channeled to VIP rooms in Manila, including Wong’s. He later returned millions to the government, staring down probes by the Senate and the AML council.
ALLAN ZEMAN
Chairman
Wynn Macau
LEGENDARY Hong Kong-based businessman Allan Zeman, best known for building the famous Lan Kwai Fong entertainment district from the ground up, stepped into the void left by Steve Wynn’s departure to be appointed Chairman of Wynn Macau Ltd in early 2018. A director of the company since its inception, he holds sway with officials in Macau, Hong Kong and mainland China but particularly in Hong Kong where he is a member or advisor to multiple business and economic groups, including the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce. Zeman is also a naturalized citizen of China and holds a Chinese passport.
YANG ZHIHUI
Chairman and Executive Director
Landing International
THE MYSTERIOUS CHINESE CHAIRMAN of Hong Kong-listed Landing International Development Ltd has maintained a low profile ever since he disappeared for three months in 2019 – later emerging to claim he had been assisting mainland China authorities with certain inquiries. His Korean integrated resort, Jeju Shinhwa World, continues to report significant losses – not aided by the theft of US$13.4 million from a VIP room at Landing Casino in January 2021, allegedly stolen by an employee. Time will tell what the future holds for both Yang and his casino prospects.
ON THE RADAR
In addition to the 75 people in the combined BIG 50, The Next 5 and the Ones To Watch, we also have a list of over 30 people who we consider “On The Radar”. This list is not published, but we use it each year to check for potential new people on the Power 50. If you think of a name you don’t see amongst the 75 published in this issue who you think should be on our radar for future years, please email our Managing Editor Ben Blaschke at bb@staging.asgam.com, and we’ll consider adding them to our “On The Radar” list if they’re not already there.
For the full list of 2022 Asian Gaming Power 50 winners, click here.
