In order to rank the 50 most powerful people in Asian gaming, the panel considered almost 100 candidates. These five are the people knocking on the door of the Power 50 and those we currently consider the most likely new entrants next year. Although we did rank these five people 51 through 55, we’ve listed them here in alphabetical order. You’ll just have to guess who came in at number 51!
DHAMMIKA PERERA
Founder
Vallibel One
IN A MOVE that shocked many, Sri Lankan billionaire Dhammika Perera stepped down as Chairman of Vallibel One – and many of his other companies – in June ahead of a move into national politics.
The 54-year-old was sworn into the Sri Lankan cabinet by new President Gotabaya Rajapaksa with a mandate to use his business skills to help attract foreign investment into the country and grow its struggling economy. Sri Lanka had only a month earlier defaulted on US$51 billion in foreign debt.
Nevertheless, Perera remains the largest stakeholder in the country’s casino industry, holding three of its five casino licenses and operating Bally’s Colombo, Bellagio Colombo and The Ritz Club.
HARUKI SATOME
President and Group CEO
Sega Sammy Holdings
JAPAN’S SEGA SAMMY HOLDINGS saw its hopes of operating an integrated resort on home soil dashed last year when its preferred location of Yokohama pulled out the IR race. Nevertheless, the pachinko industry supplier and games developer maintains a 45% stake in Paradise City, located in Incheon, South Korea, and looks set to continue looking for expansion opportunities under its President and Group CEO, Haruki Satomi.
Haruki was elevated into the senior leadership role in 2021 by his father and company founder, Hajime Satomi, who retains the role of Chairman and Representative Director.
RAVI WIJERATNE
Chairman
Rank Holdings
BORN IN SRI LANKA and educated in the UK, Ravi Wijeratne entered the casino business in 1993 when he purchased Stardust, however he cemented his standing as one of the nation’s casino kings by establishing Casino Marina, Sri Lanka’s largest casino, in 2013. He holds two of the country’s five licenses, with the other three being held by Dhammika Perera.
His company Rank Holdings also operates nine casinos in five African countries: Madagascar, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Rank Holdings’ other business segments include dry-land ports, hospitality, pharmaceuticals, construction, agri-business and energy.
ALBERT YEUNG
Chairman
Emperor Group
HAVING FOLLOWED in his father’s footsteps, what began as two small watch shops in Hong Kong eventually grew into an empire for Albert Yeung, with six listed companies making everything from films to furniture.
His entry into gaming came via a friendship with Stanley Ho, with Emperor Group subsidiary Emperor Entertainment having long run Macau peninsula casino Grand Emperor – famous for the Coldstream Guards who graced its entryway – under license from SJM.
But Yeung’s gaming interest appears to be coming to an end: Emperor E announced in April that it would close Grand Emperor in July before reaching an agreement that has seen SJM take over operations until the end of this year. The property’s fate after that remains anyone’s guess.
SONNY YEUNG
Chairman and Executive Director
Success Universe
SONNY YEUNG is founder and Chairman of Success Universe Group but is perhaps best known for his role as CEO of Pier 16 – Management Ltd, the operating entity of Macau’s inner harbour casino resort, Ponte 16.
Success Universe holds a 49% stake in Pier 16 – Management Ltd, with the other 51% owned by SJM Resorts, however it remains to be seen how the partners approach the future under a Macau gaming law that changes the structure for traditional satellite casino operators. For its part, Success Universe has stated its desire to continue, but should that fail the company will need to fall back on its travel and property investment arms instead.
For the full list of 2022 Asian Gaming Power 50 winners, click here.
