By Ben Blaschke
Inside Asian Gaming has released its 2017 Asian Gaming Power 50 – the hugely anticipated countdown of the 50 most powerful and influential people in the Asian gaming industry.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Asian Gaming Power 50 provides the most comprehensive insight into the industry’s big hitters over the past 12 months. Each Power 50 member was ranked according to a numerical “Power Score”, calculated via an extensive, highly detailed mathematical process.
First published by IAG in 2008, only four people have sat atop the Asian Gaming Power 50 in the decade since – Dr Stanley Ho (2008), Tan Sri KT Lim (2009), Sheldon Adelson (2010 and 2013 to 2016) and Francis Lui (2011 to 2012). This year also represents the first time the “BIG 50” has been published in December, as opposed to its traditional September slot, a move designed to better represent the events of the full calendar year.
As always, the 2017 Asian Gaming Power 50 is certain to create plenty of talking points with a number of surprise results in regards to the final positions of some of the industry’s biggest names. Some proved to be surprise omissions, others surprise inclusions and in many instances the Selection Panel’s discussions and analysis saw prominent candidates finish far from where industry pundits may have anticipated. Needless to say, it is this true application of facts and figures rather than any pre-conceived notions on the part of the selection panel that is the great strength of the Asian Gaming Power 50.
This year’s panel consisted of seven highly qualified individuals with long and varied backgrounds in the industry: IAG CEO Andrew W Scott, IAG Managing Editor Ben Blaschke, IAG Editor-at-Large Muhammad Cohen, Professor Desmond Lam PhD from the University of Macau, MdME Lawyers Partner Rui Pinto Proença, The Innovation Group’s Michael Zhu and Newpage Consulting Principal and former regulator David Green.
For the full list of this year’s winners, click here.
For any feedback, please contact our Managing Editor, Ben Blaschke, at bb@asgam.com