Inside Asian Gaming (IAG) is delighted to announce the judging panel for the 2026 Asian Gaming Power 50, bringing together a highly accomplished group of industry leaders and experts to help determine this year’s ranking of the 50 most influential people in the Asian gaming industry.
The 19th Asian Gaming Power 50 Black Tie Gala Dinner will take place on Friday 6 November 2026 at the JW Marriott Grand Ballroom, Galaxy Resort, where IAG will unveil this year’s “Big 50” in front of industry leaders and guests from across the region. The Power 50 will also be published in full, including the traditional “The Next 5” and “Ones to Watch,” in the November edition of IAG magazine – to be released at the Gala Dinner immediately after the announcement of the full Power 50 list.
This year’s judging panel welcomes IAG Chief of Staff Scott Messinger as a new addition, bringing decades of experience with industry heavyweights such as Las Vegas Sands and Sands China, Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas and Melco Resorts & Entertainment.
IAG also extends its sincere thanks to Grant Bowie and Heather Scheibenstock for their valuable contributions to the panel in recent years. Both have stepped away due to other commitments, and IAG is grateful for the experience and insights they have contributed to the Power 50.
Born in Australia, Andrew began his career in 1986 at a major chartered accounting firm, preparing financial accounts and tax returns and undertaking audit and liquidation work. He later established a sports betting business in Vanuatu before returning to Australia to focus on the casino industry in the early 1990s.
Over the next 15 years, he visited more than 200 casinos, primarily across the Americas and Asia-Pacific. He moved to Hong Kong in 2005 and Macau in 2009, where he founded O MEDIA and its flagship consumer publication, World Gaming.
In 2015, O MEDIA acquired Inside Asian Gaming(IAG), then an English-only monthly trade magazine. As CEO, Andrew expanded its editorial coverage, launched an events business, grew asgam.com, oversaw the development of the daily IAG Breakfast Briefing, and introduced Chinese-language coverage in print and online. He was appointed Vice Chairman of O MEDIA and IAG on 1 January 2020.
Following the merger of IAG and CDC Gaming, Andrew became CEO of their parent company, Complete Media Group, extending his network into Las Vegas and across North America.
His varied career spans accounting, nightclub management, sports betting, education, high-stakes poker, television commentary, journalism and publishing. With four decades of experience visiting and commentating on gaming and hospitality businesses, he brings deep knowledge of Macau and Asia-Pacific’s gaming and leisure sectors.
Named Macau Person of the Year in 2014, Andrew is a Fellow of the Hong Kong Institute of Directors, a permanent member of the Macau Gaming Management Association and a former Vice Chairman of the Australian Chamber of Commerce in Macau. He is a member of the International Federation of Journalists, the Portuguese and English Press Association of Macau, and the Poker Tournament Directors Association. A recognized industry commentator, he has an extensive network across Macau, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Australia and Singapore.
Andrew holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Tasmania, where he received multiple academic awards, and a Master of Science in International Integrated Resort Management with honors from the University of Macau. He achieved a perfect coursework GPA of 4.0 and wrote his thesis on “What makes one Asian Integrated Resort more profitable than another?”
Ben Blaschke is Managing Editor of Inside Asian Gaming (IAG), where he oversees editorial coverage of the region’s casino, integrated resort and iGaming sectors.
A former rugby league and sports journalist, Ben brings a strong background in reporting, storytelling and live-event coverage to his work in the gaming industry. His career has also included specialist poker journalism, covering one of the world’s most unique and competitive forms of gaming.
At IAG, Ben reports on the major developments shaping the global gaming landscape, with particular expertise in the Asia-Pacific region. His coverage spans corporate strategy, financial performance, regulatory developments, technological innovation and the evolution of integrated resorts across established and emerging markets. He regularly interviews senior executives, industry leaders and regulators, providing insight into the commercial decisions and broader trends influencing the sector.
As Managing Editor, Ben plays a key role in shaping IAG’s editorial direction and delivering industry news, analysis and interviews to a global audience of gaming professionals. He is also involved in industry events and conference programming, contributing to discussions on the challenges and opportunities facing operators, suppliers and regulators throughout Asia and beyond.
Ben is passionate about the intersection of business, media and sport, and maintains a lifelong enthusiasm for watching and following sport in almost any form. His background in sports journalism continues to inform his approach to reporting, bringing a focus on compelling narratives, strong personalities and the stories behind the headlines.
Away from the newsroom, Ben is a devoted dog lover and enthusiastic wine collector.
Professor Davis Fong, PhD in Quantitative Economics from Tsinghua University, is Director of the Institute for the Study of Commercial Gaming as well as Professor of Integrated Resort and Tourism Management in the Faculty of Business Administration, University of Macau.
Pursuit of academic interests has led him to study different aspects of gambling and related issues, such as the social and economic impacts of gambling, Chinese gambler behavior, gambling disorders, responsible gambling, visitor profile studies, casino operations, tourism management and more. Prof Fong has been responsible for more than 50 gambling and tourism related research projects for the Macao SAR Government.
He was appointed by the Government as a member of the Tourism Development Committee and of the Consultative Committee of Statistics, MSAR (UM Representative). Appointed by the Chief Executive, Prof Fong was a former Deputy of the Sixth Legislative Assembly of Macao (2017~2021).
David Green is an accomplished gaming and governance consultant with experience across multiple jurisdictions. He was previously Director of the Gaming Practice of PricewaterhouseCoopers (Macau) Limitada. An Australian citizen, he is also a Permanent Resident of Macau. He retired as a Partner of PwC in 2004 but rejoined in 2005 to assist in the legalization and regulation of casinos and the subsequent development of integrated casino resorts in Singapore.
He lived in Macau for more than 14 years and worked with the SAR Government in relation to the liberalization and regulation of the casino industry.
David is both a qualified lawyer and accountant, with considerable experience in gaming, including seven years (1995 to 2002) as a member and Chairman of the Independent Gambling Authority of South Australia, which regulated the Adelaide casino, bookmaking, community-based machine games, sports betting and racing industries. He is a former Commissioner for Consumer Affairs in South Australia, in which capacity he represented the state in negotiations for Australia’s new Competition Law. He is a former director of Donaco International, until recently listed on the ASX, which conducts gaming and associated operations in Vietnam and Cambodia.
David holds a Masters degree in Law from the University of Melbourne, an MBA with Honours from IMD, Lausanne, and a Commerce degree, also from the University of Melbourne. He was admitted to legal practice in Australia in 1977.
Professor Desmond Lam is a life member of Clare Hall at the University of Cambridge and a honorary scholar of the School of Continuing Education at the Hong Kong Baptist University. He is one of the judges for the International Gaming Awards and G2E Asia Gaming Awards and a regional assistant editor for the scholarly journal International Gambling Studies. Desmond has written and presented extensively on IR-related issues and his articles are featured in premier trade publications. He is the author of two books: Chopsticks and Gambling and Casino Management in Integrated Resorts.
Desmond is the recipient of several research and industry awards including the Cambridge Clare Hall Fellowship and the Emerging Leader trophy at the 2016 Asia Gaming Awards.
He has lectured in Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau and Malaysia and has conducted numerous university courses as well as executive workshops in gaming, marketing, tourism and hospitality.
Scott is a seasoned executive with decades of international leadership experience in marketing, brand management, advertising, public relations, digital marketing, entertainment and event management in New York, Las Vegas, Singapore and Macau.
He was SVP & Management Representative at Ted Bates Worldwide, a New York advertising agency. After 13 years at Ted Bates, Scott became EVP and Managing Director of Scali McCabe Sloves, another leading New York advertising agency, for seven years. His experience included wine and spirits, technology, hospitality and luxury brands. He served several years as an Effie Marketing Awards Finals Judge and is a two-time Golden Effie Award winner himself. Scott then took on the role of EVP of Marketing for a dot com startup from 1998 to 2001.
Building on his advertising and marketing career, Scott joined Las Vegas Sands in 2002, seeing him embark on a 16-year integrated resorts career with a multitude of Sands assets in Las Vegas, Macau and Singapore under a variety of titles, including VP of Brand Marketing at Venetian Las Vegas, VP of Brand Marketing and Operations at Venetian and Palazzo, Corporate VP of Advertising and Brand Management for Las Vegas Sands and Sands China Limited, SVP of Marketing at SCL and finally SVP of Special Projects at SCL.
Part of various Sands opening teams, Scott ensured consistency across all major Sands branded programs in all markets. He drove the strategy and positioning of virtually every Sands brand across all business units including gaming. This long period at Sands was punctuated by one year as Chief Marketing Officer for Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.
Scott then served as VP of Marketing & Brand for Melco Resorts & Entertainment from 2018 to 2020, which was followed by four years in gaming consulting roles in Macau before joining Inside Asian Gaming in early 2024. A long-time follower of IAG, Scott quickly settled into his Chief of Staff role which encompasses oversight across all aspects of IAG’s operations in media, events and advisory services. Upon the merger of IAG and CDC Gaming, from 1 January 2025 Scott became Chief of Staff of Complete Media Group, while retaining the same role at Inside Asian Gaming.
Innately curious and intuitive, Scott thrives on challenging conventional wisdom and approaches each day as an opportunity to learn.
Scott holds a Master and Bachelor of Science in Journalism from the prestigious Northwestern University in the US and earned a Post Graduate Diploma in History & Heritage Studies from the University of Saint Joseph Macao as well as a diploma in Sustainable Tourism in conjunction with the International Tourism Development Association.
Ronald Pineda or “Peepo” as he is fondly called, is a highly respected and visionary leader in the gaming industry, admired for his strong leadership, innovative thinking and integrity. With more than 30 years of combined regulatory and operational experience, he is recognized for delivering results while upholding the highest standards of fairness, operational excellence and commitment to responsible gaming practices.
He spent more than three decades with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), holding senior leadership positions in both the Casino Filipino operations and the Corporate Licensing & Regulatory Group. Rising to Vice President and serving on the Executive Committee, he played a pivotal role in modernizing gaming operations, enhancing efficiency and helping PAGCOR consistently achieve and exceed its revenue targets. His initiatives included the deployment of advanced gaming technologies and cost efficient strategies that strengthened transparency and compliance.
Currently, he is President of Boom Games and Leisure Corporation, a PAGCOR licensed gaming operator, where he oversees overall business strategy, operational performance and compliance across multiple gaming initiatives. His leadership focuses on sustainable growth, service excellence and responsible gaming practices, ensuring the company delivers value to its stakeholders and trusted entertainment to its patrons.
As a partner of True Gems Inc, a gaming focused advisory, he works closely with casino operators in the Philippines and across Asia, providing pre-opening and post opening analysis, operational strategy, performance reviews and management guidance. His expertise helps operators optimize efficiency, strengthen compliance and improve profitability while aligning with industry best practices.
He also serves as Director of Thenix Solutions Limited, a Hong Kong–based technology company, where he oversees the delivery of advanced web development, systems integration, cloud-based solutions and 24/7 technical innovation. Through his guidance, Thenix delivers impactful digital solutions that streamline operations, support decision making, and drive business growth for gaming and other industries.
In addition to these leadership roles, Ronald remains a sought after consultant for gaming companies in Asia and Europe. His unique blend of operational insight, regulatory expertise, management advisory and a player centric approach – grounded in his commitment to responsible gaming – continues to shape the future of gaming, promoting a stronger, smarter and more sustainable industry.
Rui Proença is a partner at MdME where he heads the firm’s Gaming practice. He advises casino operators, sports betting companies, technology providers, and gaming regulators throughout Asia-Pacific on regulatory, commercial and strategic matters.
Recognized as one of Asia’s leading gaming lawyers, Rui has consistently been ranked Band 1 for Gaming & Gambling by Chambers and Partners Asia-Pacific. He has extensive experience advising stakeholders across both established and emerging gaming jurisdictions on licensing, compliance, gaming technology, corporate transactions and gaming policy.
Rui is a member of the Board of Trustees of the International Association of Gaming Advisors (IAGA).
Celebrating its 19th anniversary in 2026, the Asian Gaming Power 50 has established a reputation as the definitive guide to the most influential people in the Asian gaming industry over the preceding 12 months.
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.
For sponsorship or ticketing inquiries, please contact Jadeson Ho on +853 2883 6497 or at jh@asgam.com.
