Nevada gaming regulators tentatively decided to hold a public hearing in Las Vegas on Feb. 27 to determine the suitability of MGM Mirage’s partnership at a billion-dollar hotel casino under construction in Macau. Last year, MGM Mirage asked regulators to approve a 50-50 joint venture with Fancy Ho, a Chinese businessman who was granted permission by the Macau government to develop and operate a hotel casino in the gaming area. MGM Grand Macau, which is expected to open by the end of the year, will have a casino with 600 rooms, 300 table games and 1,000 slot machines.
Gaming regulators want Fancy to be confident about gaining independence from her father, 84-year-old Chinese billionaire Stanley Ho. He owns several gambling houses in Macau, including the Lisboa Casino near the MGM Grand Macau site. Stanley Ho has been fighting claims for years that Macau casinos were involved with organized crime triads related to money laundering, moneylending, drug trafficking, and prostitution. His sister Winnie claimed that the triads were involved in the casinos. Fancy Ho is the eldest of Stanley Ho’s 17 children and is known to have inherited her father’s business property.
Last month, after appearing before the Game Control Board, MGM Miraju President Terry Rani said he had no doubt that Fancy had gained independence from her father. “If there were concerns that she wasn’t an independent person, she wouldn’t be where she is,” Rani said. “I’m not worried about that. I’ve known her for about 12 years and she’s very independent and very tough. She’s not an easy partner. She’s a competent, bright and successful businesswoman.” Game Management Board President Dennis Nilander said the three-member panel is preparing for a meeting scheduled for Wednesday in Carson City. It will then submit an investigative report on the cardboard issue.
“At the moment, we’re disclosing multiple dates,” Nealander said. “But we have to complete our process. Board members can ask questions that mean we have to postpone our work, but we won’t know until we see the findings.” Pansy Ho is expected to attend a hearing in front of Nevada gaming regulators. The control board will make recommendations on her suitability, which will be accepted later by the Nevada gaming board. A year ago, the agency planned to ask MGM Mirage for a suitability application for the Macau joint venture proposal, but the company took action itself not to comply with any formal request, according to a control board source. 온라인카지노
Since she doesn’t run a Las Vegas casino, Fancy doesn’t need a Nevada gaming license. However, according to state gaming regulations, suitability may be considered for her. Pan’s acceptance follows concessions made to her father, who owns a competitive Macau casino and is controversial in the Chinese business community. Stanley’s business holdings include hotels, real estate, ferry routes, Macau’s largest department store, airlines, and racetracks.