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The world of gaming in the state of New Jersey has its eyes rivetted on the Kerkorian-Ho affair. Every five years, gaming licences are renewed for the casinos in this state. Kirk Kerkorian's group, MGM Mirage, has created a joint venture with the billionaire Stanley Ho's group, Boyd Gaming, whose daughter Pansy Ho has been holding the reins since her father is convalescing after brain surgery (see the article: “Macao casinos are dependent on the state of health of Stanley Ho ”). It could be that the casino commission of the State of New Jersey will not renew the Atlantic City joint venture's gaming licence this year although it did so in 2005. The reason given: the unclear links between Stanley Ho and the Chinese mafia specialising in organised crime. If the commission decides not to renew the gaming licence, Kirk Kerkorian's finances will be in even more difficulty because he would have to give up 50% of the shares in the casino which is the only casino to have seen its business increase in the period from April to June 2009. A hard blow for the United States king of gambling who will be badly affected because of the links between Ho and the mafia and Ho's daughter will also be affected by this. It must be said that Stanley Ho has always managed to deny his links with the Chinese mafia and no real proof has proved the contrary. Besides, in 2002, a collaborative project  between Kirk Kerkorian's group, MGM Mirage, and Stanley Ho failed in the State of Nevada which refused to grant a gaming licence for the same reasons.

Stanley Ho's past is catching up on him and he is paying dearly to-day for his opaque links with organised crime in the ex-Portuguese colony of Macao. Not only Stanley Ho is being affected by  this personally but also his daughter, Pansy and his son Lawrence, who will succeed him ( in the case of the patriarch's death, editor's note) in holding the reins of a colossal empire. If the gaming commission of New Jersey were to refuse to renew the gaming licence of the joint-venture casino Ho-Kerkorian, the latter will face a new challenge. In fact, Kirk Kerkorian had to give up one of his casinos; Treasure Island Casino, because of the economic crisis and the financial turbulence has badly hit the finances of the group which owns numerous casinos in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and Macao.

During his life, Kirk Kerkorian has imposed himself on the world of gaming and has faced many challenges. As for knowing if at 93 years of age, the American magnate will be able to face up to it, only time will tell. To be continued...

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