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.

Stanley Ho’s Macau streak ran five decades

Inside Asian Gaming commemorates Stanley Ho, whose mastery of Macau spanned two centuries. Initially considered a bit player in the all-star cast that won Macau’s casino license in 1962, Ho passed away last month at age 98.

Totally globalized native New Yorker and former broadcast news producer Muhammad Cohen is a editor at large for Inside Asian Gaming, contributor to Forbes, 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.

Remembering Stanley Ho on ANC 24/7

In an interview with ANC News’ Michelle Ong in Manila, I talked about how casino mogul Stanley Ho lived a life that dreams are made of, the Philippine gaming market and how Asian casinos may operate after Covid-19. Ho died last week at age 98, following a long illness.

Totally globalized native New Yorker and former broadcast news producer Muhammad Cohen is a editor at large for Inside Asian Gaming, contributor to Forbes, 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.

Galaxy, Francis Lui lead Macau casino industry

Overcoming a star-studded group of rivals, Galaxy Entertainment Group deputy chairman Francis Lui has emerged as the leader of the Macau gaming industry. Observers say Galaxy has the best relationships with customers, stakeholders and government, a product of Lui’s attention to detail.

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.

Stanley Ho family feud flares again

Billionaire Pansy Ho is again moving to take control of Macau casino operator SJM Holdings, the legacy of her father Stanley Ho’s casino monopoly. That puts Pansy Ho in direct conflict with her father’s fourth wife and SJM managing director Angela Leong.

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.

Macau casino legend Stanley Ho folds

Architect of modern Macau gaming and much more, 96 year old Stanley Ho has stepped down from casino company SJM, once Macau’s market leader, now an also-ran. Ho leaves a gaggle of family and professional rivals to attempt SJM’s turnaround.

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.

Wynn leaves company with his name on it

Wynn Resorts founder Steve Wynn decides the company would be better off without him. In the wake of sexual misconduct allegations, Wynn stepped down as chairman and CEO of the company with his name all over it.

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.

Macau moguls rise on Forbes Hong Kong Rich List

Kung hei fat choi! The year of the monkey saw Macau casino owners rise on the Forbes Hong Kong Rich List. They hope to keep crowing in the year of the rooster, the birth sign of Macau gambling’s godfather Stanley Ho, with two children and a wife on the rich list.

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.

MGM takeover stamps US casino reversal

New Jersey once ordered MGM to sell its half of Atlantic City’s Borgata over an “unsuitable Macau partner.” Now MGM taking full control of the best in market casino resort shows that US regulators have accepted Macau standards of probity, rather than lifting other jurisdictions to higher standards.

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.

Macau casino moguls lose big again

Forbes’ Hong Kong rich list for 2016 shows that Macau casino owners’ net worth fell billions due to the global gaming capital’s slump.

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.