IAG Unveils Five Industry Legend Nominees for 2026
2026 shortlist confirmed
Inside Asian Gaming has revealed the five nominees for its 2026 Hall of Fame Industry Legend award. The honour will be presented during the IAG Academy IR Awards Black Tie Gala Dinner on Tuesday 15 September 2026, held as part of IAG EXPO Manila.
This award recognises individuals whose careers have delivered a lasting contribution to the Asian gaming industry. It sits at the top of the IAG Academy IR Awards, with previous recipients Ciarán Carruthers in 2024 and Dennis Andreaci in 2025.
The five nominees
The 2026 nominees are Grant Bowie, Rui José da Cunha, Linda Chen, Robert Goldstein and Ken Jolly. Together, they reflect influence across casino operations, integrated resorts, legal and regulatory affairs, gaming development and the supplier side of the sector.
That spread matters for the wider market because Asian gaming has never been shaped by operators alone. Lawyers, executives and technology leaders all affect how resorts are built, how rules are applied and how player experiences evolve.
Why each nominee stands out
Grant Bowie is widely associated with the rise of Macau’s modern integrated resort model through his leadership at MGM China. His career across Australia, Macau and other gaming markets gives him a broad operating perspective at a time when regional operators are balancing tourism, premium play and mass market demand.
Rui José da Cunha has played a major role in Macau through legal advisory work and officeholding linked to SJM parent STDM and Dr Stanley Ho. His nomination highlights the often less visible side of industry building, where legal frameworks and regulatory interpretation shape market confidence and long-term investment.
Linda Chen, President and Executive Director of Wynn Macau, represents executive leadership within one of Asia’s most recognisable integrated resort businesses. Her career signals how sustained operational leadership remains central to the success of large-scale resort properties in competitive jurisdictions.
Robert Goldstein, former Chairman and CEO of Las Vegas Sands, helped drive the expansion of the integrated resort model in both Macau and Singapore. His inclusion reflects the importance of corporate leadership in scaling multi-property businesses and setting investment direction across major gaming hubs.
Ken Jolly brings the supplier perspective, with senior roles across influential gaming technology and equipment businesses, including Light & Wonder. His nomination is a reminder that product innovation, systems and supplier relationships are critical to casino performance, even when they attract less public attention than resort development.
What this signals for the sector
The shortlist shows how the Asian gaming industry now values a wider definition of leadership. Recognition is going not only to casino chiefs, but also to figures who shaped regulation, technology supply and the commercial model behind integrated resorts.
For operators and suppliers, that sends a clear message about where long-term value is created. Sustainable growth in Asia depends on capable management, trusted legal structures and technology partnerships that support efficiency, compliance and player engagement.
Source: Inside Asian Gaming
🌐 Source: Inside Asian Gaming
