Sheldon Adelson tops Asian Gaming Power 50

Las Vegas Sands founder Sheldon Adelson tops the Asian Gaming Power 50 for 2018 with two of his lieutenants also ranking in the top 10. Adelson and company have the top gaming assets in Asia, and at age 85, hobbled by muscular disease and a major political player in the US and Israel, Adelson still burns for more.

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.

Venetian Macao changed the game

Celebrating its tenth anniversary as the world’s largest casino resort, Venetian Macao transformed the landscape for Las Vegas Sands, its creator Sheldon Adelson and global gaming.

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.

Parisian Macao caps Sands, Adelson Cotai dream

With its half scale Eiffel Tower and intelligent design, Parisian Macao puts an exclamation point on Sheldon Adelson’s Cotai dream for Sands China.

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.

Sheldon Adelson heads Asian Gaming Power 50

The man who brought Vegas to Macau, Las Vegas Sands founder Sheldon Adelson ranks first in the Asian Gaming Power 50 for the eighth time in nine years. (Fully disclosure: As editor at large of Inside Asian Gaming, I helped compile the 2016 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.

US Pacific Casino Plays Donald Trump Card

On US Pacific island Saipan, Best Sunshine CEO Mark Brown plays his Donald Trump card in a US$7.1 billion casino gamble.

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 revenue falls again, analysts differ on recovery

Casino revenue in Macau declined for an eighth straight month in January. But analysts, who remain bullish on Macau for the long term, disagree on whether it’s time to buy shares.

I’ve had a busy few weeks writing about Macau on Foirbes.com. It was a dismal December for Macau, a record monthly drop capping the first down revenue year since liberalization. As revenue fell, tumbling casino share prices hit Hong Kong’s richest hard. The drivers of high roller revenue, junket promoters are pulling back in Macau to look for greener pastures in Asia and beyond. In the midst of Macau’s dark times, Las Vegas Sands founder, chairman, chief executive and resident visionary Sheldon Adelson becomes Sands China’s CEO, replacing highly respected Edward Tracy, who will retire in March.

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.

Despite casino slump, Macau shopping not dropping

Las Vegas Sands subsidiary Sands China’s big bet on Macau retailing keeps paying off, even as casino revenue slumps. Rival gaming operators hope to catch up when the new wave of resorts begins opening next year, but they’ve got a long way to go.

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.

Venetian Macao places Sheldon Adelson atop Asian Gaming 50 again this year

Venetian Macao is overwhelming, not necessarily in a good way. Check in and they expect you to drag your own bags to your room, most easily reached through the casino. Due to the resort’s huge size – it’s bigger than the Pentagon – getting anywhere is a pain, frequently starting with the walk from the elevator to your room. Rooms are generously sized and furnished, but there’s a step between the sleeping and sitting area that’s a broken toe or ankle waiting to happen. Despite those issues and many others, Venetian Macao is the main reason that Sheldon Adelson tops the Asian Gaming 50 from Inside Asian Gaming magazine again this year.

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 casinos harness stars’ marketing punch

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone headlined a gala screening of The Expendables 3, featuring a vast ensemble of action heroes, at Venetian Macao. Playing the entertainment card, including live shows, sporting events, location shooting in resorts and red carpet extravaganzas, helps Macau casinos market in places they can’t mention gambling, including mainland China.

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.

Sands Macao: The house that built Sheldon Adelson

Ten years ago, Las Vegas Sands founder and nine-figure political donor Sheldon Adelson was a Strip B-lister who’d stumbled into the casino business, scrambling to pay the interest on his junk bonds. Then, in May 2004, Adelson opened Sands Macao, Asia’s first American style casino, and he got richer faster than anyone ever. Sands Macao is the house that built Sheldon Adelson.

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.