It has been reported that increased scrutiny regarding the relationship between MGM Resorts International and controversial Hong Kong businesswoman Pansy Ho could jeopardize a proposed project which could see an $800 million casino come to the National Harbor area of Prince George’s County, Maryland. MGM Resorts International has also lobbied hard to become a partner in the OLG's gaming modernization strategy for the Province of Ontario.
An article by the Las Vegas Review-Journal states that Pansy Ho is the daughter of the controversial Stanley Ho. International law enforcement agencies have alleged that Stanley's fortunes are under the influence, to an undetermined extent, of Chinese organized crime groups. The report explains that in 2010, New Jersey gaming regulators did not approve of Pansy's involvement with MGM. The regulators stated that Stanley provided Pansy with 90 per cent of her 50 per cent ownership stake in the MGM Grand Macau.
Multiple gaming lobbyists --- notably MGM --- have set their sites on Ontario since the McGuinty Liberal Government inexplicably announced earlier this year that it would be walking away from the mutually beneficial slots-at-racetracks program with the vast provincial horse-racing industry in March, 2013. The SAR Program has annually delivered roughly $1.1 billion in revenue to the provincial government since its implementation. The provincial horse-racing industry employs in upwards of 60,000 Ontarians and is responsible for a massive economic spinoff structure which annually contributes roughly $2 billion in impact on the province every year.
(With files from the Las Vegas Review-Journal)
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We need the OLG Swept Clean
We need the OLG Swept Clean now! Who in their right mind would openly invite Organized Crime to bid on taking over Gaming in our Province!
Maybe here in lies the reasoning behind the Government owned Casinos losing money..... losing or some skimming going on here???
Get rid of Godfrey and Duncan before they hand over the 1.1 billion dollars they currently receive from SARS to MGM or Sands!!!
and let's not forget that las
and let's not forget that las vegas sands is under investigation for bribery... taking a bribe from organised crime and then not producing... yes that would leave one very desperate.
Mr McGuinty & Duncan don't
Mr McGuinty & Duncan don't want investors like Mr Thompson of Winback Farms in Ontario but they see no problem with investors that are connected to Chinese organized crime groups. Could this why they are so desperate?
http://www.njccc.gov/casinos/
http://www.njccc.gov/casinos/home/info/docs/MGM/dge_%20report_redacted…
Some interesting reading about MGM and the Ho family.
This is the big stinky
This is the big stinky elephant. The RCMP red-flagged Stanley Ho in 1990 and reaffirmed his listing in 2000. What does this say about the OLG? If they didn't know about MGM's connection with Ho, where was their due diligence? If they knew about the connection and didn't care, where were their moral principles? They certainly didn't seem to express any concerns that I am aware of. This clique of cronies that Godfrey has put together really needs to be evaluated. If they are as lacking as they seem they should all be fired. Immediately.
Yes Mr. McGuinty get into bed
Yes Mr. McGuinty get into bed with those U.S. casino operators, they are fine corporate citizens to invite into Canada eh!