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HONG KONG : Macau gaming tycoon Stanley Ho said on Thursday that there is "no foundation" to a report that claims he is associated with Macau's triads or organised crime.
The denial comes on the back of a New Jersey casino enforcement agency report. It found Mr Ho and his daughter Pansy Ho "unsuitable" business partners for US-based MGM Mirage.
The enforcement agency also alleged that MGM Mirage knowingly signed on an "unfit" partner in order to gain a foothold in Macau after it lost out on a licence bid there.
The allegations levelled against Mr Ho are not new - the US State Department has long suspected him of having ties to organised crime.
As far back as 1992, a testimony at a US Senate Subcommittee hearing accused Mr Ho of having direct associations with known members of triad gangs.
But Mr Ho has never faced charges of any kind, and has always denied having any criminal ties.
This time around, it is the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement that is pointing the finger. It alleged that Mr Ho allowed criminal gangs to "operate and thrive" inside his casinos.
Despite Macau opening its doors to foreign players back in 2002, Mr Ho still has a strangle-hold on Macau's casinos. He owns two-thirds of the 33 casinos there.
Pansy Ho, who helps run her father's empire, was also criticised. According to the report, her close working relationship with her father made her susceptible to unsuitable influence.
The report was also critical of Las Vegas-based MGM, which pursued both Mr Ho and his daughter. It said that its MGM Macau joint venture "raises concerns about its commitment to corporate regulatory integrity".
So the regulators gave MGM a choice - either cut its ties with Pansy Ho and the Ho's casinos, or sell half of its Atlantic City's stake.
MGM has decided to cut its losses at Atlantic City - choosing instead to move its chips to Macau.
- CNA/al
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