IAG Reveals Judging Panel for 2026 Asian Gaming Power 50
Panel Confirmed for 2026 Ranking
Inside Asian Gaming has confirmed the judging panel for the 2026 Asian Gaming Power 50, its annual ranking of the 50 most influential figures in Asian gaming. The list will be revealed at the 19th Asian Gaming Power 50 Black Tie Gala Dinner on 6 November 2026 at the JW Marriott Grand Ballroom, Galaxy Resort, Macau.
The full ranking will also appear in IAG magazine's November edition, alongside “The Next 5” and “Ones to Watch”. That wider package matters because it extends the spotlight beyond current headline names and captures emerging influence across the region.
New Addition Brings Brand and Resort Experience
Scott Messinger joins the panel this year as a new judge. His background spans senior marketing and brand roles at Las Vegas Sands, Sands China, Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino and Melco Resorts & Entertainment, before moving into media and advisory work with IAG and Complete Media Group.
For operators and suppliers, that profile adds practical knowledge of how brands, integrated resorts and customer engagement programmes are built across major gaming markets. It also brings a commercial lens to influence, not just visibility.
Why the Panel Composition Matters
The 2026 judging group combines editorial leaders, academics, legal advisers and executives with regulatory and operational experience. That mix is significant because influence in Asian gaming no longer sits in one lane. It is shaped by policy, capital allocation, technology, resort development and public trust.
Academic voices such as Professor Davis Fong and Professor Desmond Lam strengthen the panel's understanding of gambling's economic and social effects. Legal and governance expertise from figures such as David Green and Rui Proença adds perspective on regulation, licensing and market structure. Industry operators including Ronald Pineda bring frontline understanding of compliance and commercial delivery.
IAG Expands the Scope of the Ranking
IAG said the Power 50 has now reached its 19th edition and remains focused on the people who shaped the Asian gaming industry over the previous 12 months. That time frame keeps the ranking tied to current impact rather than legacy alone.
For the wider sector, the list works as a market signal. It shows which executives, advisers and decision-makers are driving change across established hubs such as Macau and Singapore, while also reflecting momentum in newer and evolving jurisdictions across Asia.
Transition on the Judging Panel
IAG also thanked Grant Bowie and Heather Scheibenstock, who have stepped away from the panel due to other commitments. Their exit marks a refresh rather than a reset, with the 2026 line-up still grounded in long-term sector knowledge.
That continuity is important for credibility. Rankings of influence carry weight only when the judging process reflects experience across regulation, operations, media and investment.
Source: Inside Asian Gaming
🌐 Source: Inside Asian Gaming
