Melco hides Stanley Ho ties in plain sight

Melco used “Stanley Ho’s strong and enduring links with Macau and its business community” to secure the land for its flagship City of Dreams resort in Cotai.

Australia Broadcasting Corp’s Four Corners investigation of Crown Sydney skewers James Packer and former New South Wales Premier Barry O’Farrell. It touches on links between Melco and Stanley Ho that the Hong Kong and New York listed casino operator has managed to hide in plain sight for 15 years. Melco’s culture of denial enabled its futile bid to acquire Crown that lost US$235 million while awarding a US$19 million bonus to the doomed deal’s architect, Melco chairman Lawrence Ho.

Former US diplomat and broadcast news producer Muhammad Cohen is a columnist for iGaming Business, a contributor to Forbes and Inside Asian Gaming, columnist/correspondent for Asia Times, and author of Hong Kong On Air, a novel set in his adopted hometown during the 1997 handover about television news, love, betrayal, high finance, and cheap lingerie. See his bio, online archive and more at www.muhammadcohen.com; follow him on Facebook and Twitter @MuhammadCohen.

James Packer recovering from humbling year

Few billionaires had more humbling 2017 than Australia’s James Packer, controlling shareholder of Crown Resorts. But a scaled down, laser focused Packer and Crown are looking to defend their number position in Australia, rather than conquer the world.

Totally globalized native New Yorker and former broadcast news producer Muhammad Cohen is a blogger for Forbes, editor at large for Inside Asian Gaming and author of Hong Kong On Air, a novel set in his adopted hometown during the 1997 handover about television news, love, betrayal, high finance, and cheap lingerie. See his bio, online archive and more at www.muhammadcohen.com; follow him on Facebook and Twitter @MuhammadCohen.

Crown arrests in China could aid Macau casinos

The ongoing drama of Crown Resorts executives arrested in China for allegedly violating rules against casino promotion are bad for Crown but may benefit Macau’s beleaguered junket promoters at the expense of other VIP destinations.

Totally globalized native New Yorker and former broadcast news producer Muhammad Cohen is a blogger for Forbes, editor at large for Inside Asian Gaming and author of Hong Kong On Air, a novel set in his adopted hometown during the 1997 handover about television news, love, betrayal, high finance, and cheap lingerie. See his bio, online archive and more at www.muhammadcohen.com; follow him on Facebook and Twitter @MuhammadCohen.

Australia casinos shift China play

As VIP play recedes while Chinese visitor numbers boom, Australian casinos hope integrated resorts will keep Chinese playing with them.

Totally globalized native New Yorker and former broadcast news producer Muhammad Cohen is a blogger for Forbes, editor at large for Inside Asian Gaming and author of Hong Kong On Air, a novel set in his adopted hometown during the 1997 handover about television news, love, betrayal, high finance, and cheap lingerie. See his bio, online archive and more at www.muhammadcohen.com; follow him on Facebook and Twitter @MuhammadCohen.

China fever overwhelms India’s gaming chops

While casino operators scramble for China’s players, India represents Asia’s biggest untapped market with US$10 billion potential, Global Market Advisors says in a new study.

Totally globalized native New Yorker and former broadcast news producer Muhammad Cohen is a blogger for Forbes, editor at large for Inside Asian Gaming and author of Hong Kong On Air, a novel set in his adopted hometown during the 1997 handover about television news, love, betrayal, high finance, and cheap lingerie. See his bio, online archive and more at www.muhammadcohen.com; follow him on Facebook and Twitter @MuhammadCohen.

James Packer’s Crown hedges Macau bet

With billions on the table in Sydney and Las Vegas, Australia casino leader Crown Resorts sells down its interest in Melco Crown, the NASDAQ listed vehicle running casinos in Macau and Manila.

Totally globalized native New Yorker and former broadcast news producer Muhammad Cohen is a blogger for Forbes, editor at large for Inside Asian Gaming and author of Hong Kong On Air, a novel set in his adopted hometown during the 1997 handover about television news, love, betrayal, high finance, and cheap lingerie. See his bio, online archive and more at www.muhammadcohen.com; follow him on Facebook and Twitter @MuhammadCohen.

Studio City takes Macau in new directions

Macau’s latest integrated resort has Batman, Bugs Bunny, Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro in Martin Scorsese’s movie about it, Asia’s highest figure-eight Ferris wheel and, most amazing, Studio City has no VIP gaming, a revolutionary change for the world’s casino capital.

Totally globalized native New Yorker and former broadcast news producer Muhammad Cohen is a blogger for Forbes and author of Hong Kong On Air, a novel set in his adopted hometown during the 1997 handover about television news, love, betrayal, high finance, and cheap lingerie. See his bio, online archive and more at www.muhammadcohen.com; follow him on Facebook and Twitter @MuhammadCohen.

Macau casino slump runs to 17 months, Studio City rolls

The opening of US$3.2 billion Studio City didn’t reverse Macau’s 17 months of declining casino revenue. But the October numbers offer some subtle signs of a potential turnaround for the global gaming capital.

Totally globalized native New Yorker and former broadcast news producer Muhammad Cohen is a blogger for Forbes and author of Hong Kong On Air, a novel set in his adopted hometown during the 1997 handover about television news, love, betrayal, high finance, and cheap lingerie. See his bio, online archive and more at www.muhammadcohen.com; follow him on Facebook and Twitter @MuhammadCohen.

Melco Crown needs City of Dreams Manila jackpot

Macau casino operator Melco Crown’s new City of Dreams Manila resort needs to hit the jackpot to put the Philippine capital on the global gaming map and to show that the company can create a successful property in a challenging environment. Melco Crown’s sons of billionaires co-chairmen Lawrence Ho and James Packer have enlisted the star power of Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese to aid their cause.

Totally globalized native New Yorker and former broadcast news producer Muhammad Cohen is a blogger for Forbes and author of Hong Kong On Air, a novel set in his adopted hometown during the 1997 handover about television news, love, betrayal, high finance, and cheap lingerie. See his bio, online archive and more at www.muhammadcohen.com; follow him on Facebook and Twitter @MuhammadCohen.

Sri Lanka casino tale highlights political risk

Investing in developing economies is risky enough. When the project involves an edgy product such as casinos, the hazards multiply. Add in a powerful clergy, and that’s how things went wrong for Australian billionaire James Packer’s Crown Resorts in Sri Lanka.

Totally globalized native New Yorker and former broadcast news producer Muhammad Cohen is a blogger for Forbes and author of Hong Kong On Air, a novel set in his adopted hometown during the 1997 handover about television news, love, betrayal, high finance, and cheap lingerie. See his bio, online archive and more at www.muhammadcohen.com; follow him on Facebook and Twitter @MuhammadCohen.