Stanley Ho, the Hong Kong-born business tycoon widely credited with transforming neighboring Macau into a casino hub big enough to rival Las Vegas, passed away at 1pm today at the Hong Kong Santorium and Hospital.

Ho founded company SJM Holdings, which owns a number of the casinos in Macau and held a government-granted monopoly as the only casino licensee for many years, earning Ho the nicknames “King of Gambling” and “Godfather”. One of the richest men in Asia, Ho was also a well-known philanthropist. He retired in 2018.

The news of his death was delivered by his daughter Pansy Ho, one of 15 out of 17 of his children that survive him along with three of four of his wives.

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