• Subscribe
  • Magazines
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Friday 9 May 2025
  • zh-hant 中文
  • ja 日本語
  • en English
IAG
Advertisement
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
No Result
View All Result
IAG
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
No Result
View All Result
IAG
No Result
View All Result

2017 Inside Asian Gaming Power 50: Number Four – Lim Kok Thay

Tue 5 Dec 2017 at 06:52
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

4 Lim Kok Thay

EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN AND CEO
Genting Berhad

CHAIRMAN AND CEO
Genting Hong Kong

POWER SCORE 3,598 LAST YEAR 3

 

CLAIMS TO FAME
• Global reach, from Malaysia to Miami, seven seas to Las Vegas Strip – but not Macau
• Grooming son Lim Keong Hui, 33, for leadership in group founded by his father Lim Goh Tong
• Chairman and CEO of each Genting Group hospitality subsidiary

At the Japan Gaming Conference in May, every major casino operator in Asia made their case to be part of an integrated resort in the world’s third biggest economy. Except for Genting. Perhaps Lim Kok Thay and company think their work speaks for itself, and many believe it has precisely what Japan wants in an IR developer. Moreover, Genting’s absence in Macau, often seen as a glaring shortcoming, may well prove an asset in the Japan sweepstakes.

Genting spans the globe, from the original Resorts World Genting highlands retreat outside Kuala Lumpur – an inspired initiative of Lim Kok Thay’s father and group founder Lim Goh Tong – to the beaches of Bimini, from Birmingham to New York City to Manila to a trio of cruise lines. Most properties are under the Resorts World name, making it the closest thing to a global casino brand.

Of the Resorts World properties, Singapore’s RW Sentosa, with a Universal Studios theme park, world top 10 water park, massive aquarium, innovative museum, celebrity chefs, destination spa plus thriving casino despite extremely limited junket play and restricted access for locals, fits the profile of how Japan IR boosters see their dreams coming true. Genting also has history of playing well with partners – likely a requirement in Japan – notably with Philippine billionaire Andrew Tan’s Alliance Global at RW Manila.

Most important, Genting has a history of success, on track for US$5.6 billion in revenue this year, US$1.6 billion in EBITDA plus more than US$1 billion in the bank, supported by five publicly listed companies. At the core of the conglomerate that includes energy, property and plantations, Genting’s various hospitality and leisure segments accounted for 84% of revenue and 92% of EBITDA in the first half of 2017. Within that core, Singapore and Malaysia delivered 79% of revenue and 95% of EBITDA. Therein lies the ongoing imperative to expand globally.

Usually, Genting looks for situations where it will have a competitive advantage. Malaysia is a monopoly. Singapore is a duopoly. RW New York City and the upstate New York license awarded to Lim family holding company Kien Huat Realty each hold geographic exclusives. RW Manila had first mover advantage. Bimini combines Genting’s cruise and IR expertise, hoping for eventual synergy with its landholding in Miami if authorities someday approve casino gambling. In Asia, it’s making a big bet on Dream Cruises, the first tailored to the Chinese market.

Where competitive advantages erode or don’t evolve as expected, Genting will cut bait. In November last year, it exited the RW Jeju joint venture with China’s Landing International, claiming it wanted to focus on Japan, but perhaps because it surmised South Korea wouldn’t allow local players anytime soon.

That search for an edge makes Genting’s decision to develop US$4 billion RW Las Vegas so surprising. It’s difficult to see where Genting would have an advantage on the Vegas Strip justifying that size bet. That said, underestimate Lim and Genting at your peril.

To return to the full list of 2017 Asian Gaming Power 50 winners, click here.

Share7Share1

Current Issue

Editorial – Knife’s edge

Editorial – Knife’s edge

by Andrew W Scott and Ben Blaschke
Tue 29 Apr 2025 at 15:14

Thailand’s Entertainment Complex journey is at a critical point, with the success or failure of the initiative to be determined...

The changing face of Macau

The changing face of Macau

by Ben Blaschke
Tue 29 Apr 2025 at 15:09

Inside Asian Gaming takes a deep dive into the new, post-COVID Macau where a revenue environment that seems to be...

Born again

Born again

by Pierce Chan
Tue 29 Apr 2025 at 14:47

Premiering in September 2010 at City of Dreams, The House of Dancing Water was a visionary creation by artistic maestro...

Richard Howarth – Testing the limits

Richard Howarth – Testing the limits

by Ben Blaschke
Tue 29 Apr 2025 at 13:17

Richard Howarth, Chief Business Officer APAC for global testing laboratory GLI, discusses his career journey and his passion for fast-paced...

Evolution Asia
Aristocrat
GLI
Mindslot
Solaire
Hann
Tecnet
Nustar
Jumbo

Related Posts

The 2024 Asian Gaming Power 50

The 2024 Asian Gaming Power 50

by Andrew W Scott
Tue 12 Nov 2024 at 17:04

Long established as the definitive list of the most influential figures and personalities in the regional industry, IAG’s Asian Gaming Power 50 celebrates its 17th anniversary in 2024. It is now 16 years since Inside Asian Gaming first published the...

The 2024 Asian Gaming Power 50 List

2024 Asian Gaming Power 50: Meet the panel

by Newsdesk
Tue 12 Nov 2024 at 16:39

IAG introduces the seven members of the judging panel who have determined this year’s Asian Gaming Power 50 list. Andrew is a gaming industry expert and media publisher, commentator and advisor. He has 38 years industry experience and has lived...

The 2024 Asian Gaming Power 50 List

The 2024 Asian Gaming Power 50 List

by Newsdesk
Tue 12 Nov 2024 at 16:28

RANK POWER SCORE NAME TITLE ORGANIZATION 1 5,698 FRANCIS LUI VICE CHAIRMAN Galaxy Entertainment Group 2 4,489 ROBERT GOLDSTEIN CHAIRMAN AND CEO Las Vegas Sands 3 4,421 PANSY HO CHAIRPERSON AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MGM China 4 4,412 LAWRENCE HO CHAIRMAN...

2024 Asian Gaming Power 50: Number 4 – Lawrence Ho

2024 Asian Gaming Power 50: Number 1 – Francis Lui

by Newsdesk
Tue 12 Nov 2024 at 16:27

CLAIMS TO FAME Built Galaxy into Macau’s de facto local gaming champion Continuing to build out largest single land plot in Cotai via Galaxy Macau Holds strategic stakes in Monte Carlo casino operator SBM and Wynn Resorts It’s been quite...



IAG

© 2005-2024
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • NEWSFEED
  • MAG ARTICLES
  • VIDEO
  • OPINION
  • TAGS
  • REGIONAL
  • EVENTS
  • CONSULTING
  • CONTRIBUTORS
  • MAGAZINES
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • ADVERTISE

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • Subscribe
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • Magazines
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • About
  • Home for G2E Asia

© 2005-2024
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • English