One of his other children, Lawrence Ho, is James Packer's partner in Macau. They were forced to distance their venture Melco International from Stanley Ho in 2006 to obtain regulatory approval from Australian authorities. Lawrence Ho, who controlled Macau's gambling sector until it was opened to foreign competition in 2002, has denied any ties to organised crime.
MGM Mirage's chairman and CEO, Jim Murren, said in a statement posted on MGM's website on Friday that he disagreed with the regulator's assessment of Ho. But he added that the ''best course of action for our company and its shareholders is to settle this matter and move forward with the compelling growth opportunities we have in Macau''.
MGM operates casinos in several US states, including Nevada, Mississippi and Michigan.