Inside Asian Gaming

DECEMBER 2018 INSIDE ASIAN GAMING 59 Jun Fujimoto REPRESENTATIVE DIRECTOR AND CEO Universal Entertainment POWER SCORE: 691 POSITION LAST YEAR: 41 CLAIMS TO FAME Pachinko machine manufacturer owns Okada Manila, the largest integrated resort in the Philippine capital Only Japanese company to operate its own IR 38 Universal has opted to keep Okada Manila, the most expensive integrated resort in the Philippine capital’s Entertainment City district, even though the property was the brainchild of ousted Universal founder Kazuo Okada. Universal President Jun Fujimoto, whose professional expertise is Universal’s dominant pachinko machine business, apparently agrees with experts that being the only Japanese company operating an IR on its own could be a golden ticket to a Japan IR license. Universal’s Philippines subsidiary Tiger Resort Leisure and Entertainment recently opened an office in Japan to investigate IR opportunities. In June, Universal appointed investment banker Byron Yip as Okada Manila’s chief operating officer. There’s been substantial progress toward completing the IR’s US$2.8 billion first phase including roughly 1,000 guest rooms, up to 500 gaming tables and 3,000 EGMs plus dining and retail around the world’s largest dancing fountain. Kazuo Okada still looms. In an interview with Inside Asian Gaming published in October, Okada pledged to take back Universal. Daughter Hiromi Okada, who sat beside her father during the interview, controls a 9.78% swing stake in Okada Holdings, the Hong Kong entity that owns 67.9% of Universal. After joining her brother to remove their father, Hiromi now says she’ll vote to restore him. Hong Kong courts are considering whether she can. Jay Chun CHAIRMAN AND MANAGING DIRECTOR Paradise Entertainment Group POWER SCORE: 619 POSITION LAST YEAR: 42 CLAIMS TO FAME Founder of Macau gaming equipment manufacturer LT Game Changed the face of Macau’s casino floors with his Live Multi Game Machines 39 ASIAN GAMING POWER 50 2 0 1 8