EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CEO
Rich Goldman Holdings
POWER SCORE: 1,189
POSITION LAST YEAR: 22
CLAIMS TO FAME
• Oversaw company’s growth to become one of Macau’s “big three” junkets
• The only non-Chinese member of the board
Junkets come and junkets go, but for all the intense rationalization of the industry over the past five years, Rich Goldman Holdings Executive Director and CEO Nicholas Niglio continues to stand firm as the most prominent Westerner in the VIP biz.
Celebrating 12 years as CEO of Rich Goldman – formerly known as Neptune Group – in 2019, Niglio’s long career has seen him fill an incredibly diverse selection of roles including almost a decade under the watch of US President and former US gaming tycoon Donald Trump. Starting in 1993, he served as Executive Vice President of Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort Inc, Senior Vice President of Casino Marketing of Taj Associates of Trump Atlantic City Associates and Senior Executive in Casino Marketing and International Operation at Atlantic City NJ (Trump).
Clearly the unexpected has never fazed him.
Rich Goldman Holdings is one of the select junket operators to have survived the downturn that crippled many of its smaller rivals, with VIP well and truly rebounding in recent years.
And while the company has lost two of its three listed Macau junket operations over the past 18 months after Venetian Macau Limited terminated agreements with Hao Cai and Hou Wan, the company continues to plow ahead.
Rich Goldman saw gaming revenue from its listed business fall 18.9% in FY19 to HK$74.1 million – all now coming from Neptune GD VIP Club at Grand Lisboa – however group-wide revenue actually increased 9.2% due to the company’s recent diversification into two new business segments, namely money lending and hotel operations.
For the full list of 2019 Asian Gaming Power 50 winners, click here.