Although Stanley Ho is noted for his domination over the gaming market in Macau, it is often forgotten that his Portuguese subsidiary, Estoril Sol, operates Europe's largest casino, Casino de Estoril in Lisbon.

Mário Assis Ferreira, director of Estoril Sol, says the intent all along was to expand the reach of Ho's casino ownership and management. In fact, the company already operates or intends to seek casinos in Mozambique, Brazil and Spain. The company is setting up casinos in several other countries, including Guinea Bissau, East Timor and Cape Verde.

In Angola, Ho is in partnership with Isabel dos Santos, the daughter of the nation's president, Jose Eduardo dos Santos. According to the Africa Monitor newsletter, Ho and dos Santos have taken over the concession to operate the casino in the new five-star Hotel Intercontinental, currently nearing completion. The Monitor says the two received the concession after the previous designee, Plurijogos, lost the license. The hotel complex is being built by a consortium between Sonangol and the Suninvest Group.

Ho and dos Santos are also said to have acquired the rights to a casino at the planned Gika Complex in Luanda that had previously been promised to Plurijogos.

By GGB Staff

Staff writers for Global Gaming Business magazine. Las Vegas, Nevada.