CO-CHAIRMAN AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
SJM Holdings
CHIEF ADMINISTRATION OFFICER
SJM Resorts
POWER SCORE: 893
POSITION LAST YEAR: 13
CLAIMS TO FAME
- Fourth wife of Stanley Ho
- Largest individual shareholder in SJM Holdings
MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE on this year’s Power 50 list, SJM Holdings heavyweight and satellite casino boss Angela Leong encapsulates the hardships of Macau and its uncertain future.
The fourth de facto wife of the late Stanley Ho, Leong’s once formidable power in and outside the SJM stable has receded amid SJM’s cash struggles and several legislative reforms over the last year. These include the phasing out of the operational autonomy of satellite casinos, which hurts not only SJM’s long list of satellite partners but also Leong’s own interest in the Royal L’Arc and Jai Alai properties and in the gaming possibilities of non-gaming properties such as Lisboeta.
Another significant shift has seen Leong cede her Managing Director’s post at SJM Holdings’ concession-holding subsidiary, SJM Resorts, to SJM boss Daisy Ho to meet the requirements of the amended gaming law, along with 10% of SJM shares – though the value of these Class B shares is nominal.
Leong remains an SJM co-chairman and major shareholder and is a lawmaker in Macau’s Legislative Assembly, but Beijing’s de facto control of gaming policymaking and any other lucrative endeavor appears to have reduced her space to maneuver as the new governance normal takes hold in Macau.
For the full list of 2022 Asian Gaming Power 50 winners, click here.
