11-CASINO

At a glamorous Knightsbridge venue – the Jumeirah Carlton Tower Hotel, a recent International Awards ceremony saw members of the gaming industry raising a total of £19,000 for Care International and Children with Leukaemia. Some of the most high-flying names in both the online and offline gambling industry were present. The gala event was organized to see industry awards being given to Dr. Stanley Ho’s Son – Lawrence Ho, for an Outstanding Contribution to the Gaming Industry. Ho is the CEO and Chairman of Melco Crown Entertainment and has been dubbed the “new face of Macau”.

This was the highest accolade of the awards ceremony and it confirms the standing of the Ho’s as a prevailing entrepreneurial force in Greater China. Other awards included the Socially Responsible operator of the Year, the Casino Operator of the Year and Sportsbook of the Year. The City of Dreams Casino in Macau took the award for the most significant in Casino Interior Design.

It is a well known fact that the gambling industry donates hugely to charitable causes and we see social responsibility as a running theme at many online sites too. Whether they are casino, poker, sports betting or bingo operators! The fact that those less fortunate than ourselves benefit from these industry players, speaks volumes for their broader appeal.

In more news on the “Ho” front, tabloids have been zoning in on the family as they scramble to grab a share in Stanly Ho’s fortune. The Chinese billionaire gambling tycoon, an 89 year old, is actually not deceased as far as we know. A recent serious health scare saw the former ballroom dancer become more vulnerable than ever before and now he is wheelchair bound. He controls 30% of the casino market in Macau and his sector of this industry is valued at $23.5 billion. Effectively Ho monopolises much of this industry and has done so for close to 40 years.

This Empire shows no evidence of losing its hold, with Macau visitors increasing year-on-year. However, the octogenarian has four wives and seventeen children, so, his ill health has thrust something of a power struggle into the limelight. Lawyers have confirmed that Ho’s wealth will be distributed equally amongst all his wives and children, however, recent rumours also confirm that certain members of his family have been attempting to take over his casino concerns and manage affairs without consent. As far as the media can tell the power struggle is between fourth wife Angela Leong On Kei and eldest daughter Pansy.

Obviously media speculation will continue to be rife for as long as Ho’s health continues to fail. His lawyers have a tough battle on their hands and when money making potential as large as this is at stake, it is stunning what people will do. It is believed that family members will continue to compete for whatever additional portions of his fortune or control they can get their hands on. What a dreadful thing to see, when you are still alive to see it take place!