Galaxy Entertainment Group’s Francis Lui tops Asian Gaming Power 50 for fourth year in a row
Galaxy Entertainment group vice-chairman Francis Lui has been named the most influential person in the Asian gaming industry for the fourth year in a row after topping IAG’s Asian Gaming Power 50 list for 2022.
The Asian Gaming Power 50 is Inside Asian Gaming’s annual list of the 50 most influential individuals in the industry across the Asia-Pacific region, as ranked by a panel of esteemed judges boasting decades of industry experience.
The 2022 Asian Gaming Power 50 was announced at a black tie gala dinner held outside of Macau for the first time in its 15-year history, at City of Dreams Manila in the Philippines.
Lui’s success represents the fourth consecutive year he has topped the list and the sixth overall, having previously ranked number one in 2011 and 2012, and every year since 2019.
Moving into second spot in 2022 is Genting Group chairman and CEO Lim Kok Thay, whose company has benefited from the global Covid-19 recovery given its strong positions in Malaysia via Resorts World Genting and Singapore via Resorts World Sentosa. Despite the collapse of his cruise ship entity Genting Hong Kong, Lim has benefited from his lack of a presence in Macau – albeit a presence he is currently trying to establish – to climb one spot higher than a year ago.
Dropping back to third on Macau’s woes is Melco Resorts & Entertainment chairman and CEO Lawrence Ho, while his sister, MGM China co-chairperson and executive director Pansy Ho, maintains her position in fourth.
Rounding out the top five is Las Vegas Sands’ chairman and CEO, Rob Goldstein, buoyed by impressive results in the second and third quarters at the company’s iconic Singapore IR, Marina Bay Sands.
Notably moving into sixth and his highest ever position in the Power 50 is Bloomberry Resorts corporate chairman and CEO Enrique Razon Jr. Continuing to lead the way for the rapidly growing Philippines gaming industry, Razon’s latest jump is on the strength of his Entertainment City flagship Solaire, with a second IR due to open in Quezon City in 2023 and a third planned for future development in Cavite.
Nine people from the 2021 Asian Gaming Power 50 have fallen off this year’s list, with eight of the nine moving in to replace them appearing for the very first time, including the chairman and CEO of Hann Philippines Inc, Daesik Han.
Also included for the first time are Wynn Resorts CEO, Craig Billings, Crown Resorts CEO, Ciarán Carruthers and newly appointed PAGCOR chairman, Alex Tengco.