Genting Group

Genting Group is a Malaysia-based multinational business group whose best-known activities are casinos, integrated resorts, hotels, theme parks, entertainment, food and beverage, conventions and retail. Its origins date to 1965, when Malaysian entrepreneur Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong established the business and developed what became Genting Highlands Resort, now Resorts World Genting. The mountain resort became the group’s flagship and provided the operating model for combining gaming with accommodation, attractions, dining, shopping and live entertainment rather than treating a casino as a standalone facility. The group is organized principally through Genting Berhad, an investment-holding and management company, together with major listed and operating subsidiaries. Genting Malaysia Berhad operates leisure and hospitality businesses, casinos and entertainment assets in Malaysia, the United States, the United Kingdom and other markets. Genting Singapore Limited operates Resorts World Sentosa, one of Singapore’s two integrated resorts, including Universal Studios Singapore, hotels, restaurants, retail, convention facilities and casino operations. Genting Plantations Berhad manages plantation, biotechnology and property interests, while Genting Energy Limited is a wholly owned energy subsidiary. Related family interests have also supported property and gaming investments outside the core listed structure. Resorts World Genting remains the group’s pioneer and signature destination. Over time, the Resorts World name has been applied to properties such as Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore, Resorts World New York City, Resorts World Bimini, Resorts World Birmingham and Resorts World Las Vegas. The group has also participated in projects in the Philippines, including the resort formerly known as Resorts World Manila, and has maintained a substantial casino presence in the United Kingdom. Its international expansion has generally focused on large-scale, destination-oriented facilities that combine regulated gaming with hotels, entertainment and non-gaming attractions. Genting has diversified beyond leisure and hospitality. Plantation operations in Malaysia and Indonesia form a substantial land and agricultural platform, while Genting Property has pursued residential, commercial and retail development, including Johor Premium Outlets in partnership with Simon Property Group. The group has also explored power generation, oil and gas, biotechnology and life sciences. Some activities once associated with the wider family business, including cruise companies and Genting Hong Kong, were subsequently separated from Genting Group or sold. The company’s international strategy has included casino licensing bids, acquisitions, development partnerships and investment financing. Examples include winning a Singapore integrated-resort licence in 2006, securing the Aqueduct racino opportunity in New York in 2010, acquiring land for a proposed Resorts World Miami project, purchasing the unfinished Echelon Place site in Las Vegas and developing Resorts World Las Vegas. These initiatives illustrate Genting’s emphasis on extending its brand into major tourism, entertainment and gaming markets while adapting to local licensing and partnership requirements. Genting Group is headquartered in Kuala Lumpur and has been described as employing approximately 54,000 people worldwide, with more than 18,000 hotel rooms and a large plantation and property land bank. As of 1 March 2025, Dato’ Sri Tan Kong Han became group chief executive officer, the first chief executive appointed from outside the founding family, while Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay remained chairman. The group’s present identity therefore combines a family-founded Malaysian holding company, a globally deployed Resorts World hospitality and gaming platform, and diversified plantation, property and energy businesses.

Genting Group was founded in 1965 by Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong, who developed a hilltop leisure destination in Malaysia that became Genting Highlands Resort and is now known as Resorts World Genting. The project established the group’s core integrated-resort formula: gaming supported by hotels, restaurants, shopping, entertainment, attractions and other visitor services. Resorts World Genting became the group’s principal Malaysian asset and the foundation for later international expansion. The group subsequently organized its activities through Genting Berhad and a network of listed and unlisted subsidiaries. While leisure and hospitality remained central, the business expanded into plantations, property, power generation, oil and gas, biotechnology and life sciences. Genting Plantations developed agricultural operations in Malaysia and Indonesia and entered biotechnology through a joint venture intended to investigate synthetic genomic and naturally occurring processes for alternative energy applications. Genting also disposed of its paper and packaging business in 2007 as part of portfolio adjustment. International expansion accelerated in the 2000s. In 2006, the group won one of Singapore’s two casino licences and developed Resorts World Sentosa. The project broadened Genting’s resort model with hotels, gaming, Universal Studios Singapore, dining, retail, convention facilities and entertainment. In the Philippines, Genting Hong Kong partnered with Alliance Global Group on Resorts World Manila, which opened in 2009. The group also developed a substantial UK casino presence and pursued North American opportunities. In Malaysia, Genting Property partnered with Simon Property Group on Johor Premium Outlets, linked to a wider integrated township concept. In the United States, Genting New York won the Aqueduct racino bid in 2010, and Resorts World New York City opened in 2011. Genting later acquired the former Echelon Place site on the Las Vegas Strip and announced Resorts World Las Vegas. It also acquired land in Miami for a proposed mixed-use Resorts World development and announced other projects, including plans associated with Resorts World Catskills and a proposed Andorran casino resort. The wider family business also entered cruise and maritime leisure through Genting Hong Kong, Star Cruises, Dream Cruises, Crystal Cruises and related shipbuilding interests. Crystal Cruises was acquired in 2015, but Genting Hong Kong was transferred to a family-owned unit trust in 2016 and was no longer part of the Genting Group corporate structure in the same way. The group later sold its remaining interest in Norwegian Cruise Line in 2018. These changes illustrate the distinction between Genting Group’s listed corporate businesses and other ventures associated with the Lim family. By the 2020s, Genting Group remained centered on destination resorts, casinos and hospitality while maintaining its plantation, property and energy platforms. Its principal operating brands and properties span Malaysia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Philippines and the Caribbean. In 2025, Dato' Sri Tan Kong Han became chief executive officer, the first CEO appointed from outside the founding family, while Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay continued as chairman. The leadership change represented an important governance transition for a group still closely identified with its founding family.

• 2025

  External-family CEO appointed

  [1]Genting Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Dato' Sri Tan Kong Han became CEO, the first chief executive from outside the founding family.

• 2015

  Crystal Cruises acquired

  [1]Genting Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Genting Hong Kong purchased Crystal Cruises as part of a wider luxury-cruise expansion.

• 2013

  Las Vegas site acquired

  [1]Genting Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Genting bought the unfinished Echelon Place site and announced Resorts World Las Vegas.

• 2011

  Resorts World New York City opens

  [1]Genting Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group opened its Queens gaming and entertainment destination at Aqueduct.

• 2010

  Aqueduct racino opportunity secured

  [1]Genting Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Genting New York won the bid to develop gaming facilities at Aqueduct Racetrack.

• 2009

  Resorts World Manila opens

  [1]Genting Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Genting Hong Kong and Alliance Global Group opened Resorts World Manila in the Philippines.

• 2007

  Biotechnology venture expanded

  [1]Genting Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Genting Plantations entered biotechnology through an equal joint venture with Synthetic Genomics.

• 2006

  Singapore integrated-resort licence awarded

  [1]Genting Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Genting won one of Singapore’s two casino licences, leading to the development of Resorts World Sentosa.

• 1965

  Genting Group founded

  [1]Genting Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong founded the group and began developing the Malaysian hill resort that became Resorts World Genting.

A diversified, internationally oriented destination-resort and gaming group that integrates casinos with hotels, attractions, entertainment, retail, dining and convention facilities, while retaining major plantation, property and energy businesses.

• Integrated resort

  Resorts World Genting

  Genting’s pioneer and flagship Malaysian mountain resort in Genting Highlands. Its offer combines casino gaming with hotels, theme-park and family attractions, concerts and shows, food and beverage, retail shopping and other tourism facilities. The property established the integrated-resort model that the group later exported to international markets.

• Integrated resort

  Resorts World Sentosa

  A Singapore destination resort operated by Genting Singapore. It includes casino gaming, hotels, Universal Studios Singapore, restaurants, retail, convention facilities and entertainment venues, making it one of the group’s most significant international developments.

• Casino and entertainment resort · 2011

  Resorts World New York City

  A gaming and entertainment property developed at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens after Genting New York won the racino bid. Its location near John F. Kennedy International Airport supports a tourism and local-entertainment proposition distinct from a traditional destination casino.

• Integrated resort

  Resorts World Las Vegas

  A Las Vegas Strip resort project developed on the former Echelon Place site acquired by Genting. It extends the Resorts World brand into one of the world’s best-known gaming and convention markets.

• Integrated resort · 2009

  Newport World Resorts

  The Philippine resort formerly known as Resorts World Manila, developed in partnership with Alliance Global Group. It combines hotels, casino gaming, dining, entertainment and retail within Manila’s Entertainment City area.

• Online casino

  GentingCasino.com

  The group’s UK-facing online casino operation. In 2021, trade and business publications reported that the service moved from a proprietary platform to SkillOnNet and discontinued sports betting as it concentrated on casino products.

• Retail outlet development

  Johor Premium Outlets

  An upscale outlet-shopping destination developed by Genting Property in partnership with Simon Property Group in Johor, Malaysia. It forms part of a broader township and property-development strategy alongside the group’s leisure businesses.

• 2025

  Appoint an external-family CEOOther

  Background

  Genting introduced a leadership change after decades of strong association with the founding Lim family.

  Action taken

  Dato' Sri Tan Kong Han was appointed chief executive officer on 1 March 2025.

  Aftermath

  The appointment marked the first time the group selected a CEO from outside the founding family.

  Source

• 2021

  Refocus UK online gamingStrategy

  Background

  The UK-facing online operation changed its technology and product configuration.

  Action taken

  GentingCasino.com reportedly migrated to the SkillOnNet platform and discontinued sports betting.

  Aftermath

  The online proposition was concentrated on casino products.

  Source

• 2016

  Separate Genting Hong Kong from the groupStrategy

  Background

  The wider family business undertook a restructuring of its cruise and maritime leisure interests.

  Action taken

  Genting Hong Kong was transferred to the Lim family-owned unit trust Golden Hope Limited.

  Aftermath

  Genting Hong Kong was separated from Genting Group’s corporate structure while remaining within the founding family’s broader interests.

  Source

• 2013

  Acquire the Echelon Place siteM&A

  Background

  Genting sought a Las Vegas Strip development platform for further international resort expansion.

  Action taken

  The group purchased the unfinished Echelon Place site and announced Resorts World Las Vegas.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition provided the site for a major Resorts World-branded Las Vegas project.

  Source

• 2010

  Expand into New York gamingStrategy

  Background

  Genting pursued a US gaming opportunity connected to Aqueduct Racetrack and its proximity to John F. Kennedy International Airport.

  Action taken

  Genting New York won the racino bid and developed Resorts World New York City.

  Aftermath

  The property opened in 2011 and established a Resorts World presence in the New York market.

  Source

• 2006

  Enter Singapore’s integrated-resort marketStrategy

  Background

  Singapore opened a regulated casino and integrated-resort market requiring gaming to be combined with hotels, leisure, convention and retail facilities.

  Action taken

  Genting won one of two available licences and developed Resorts World Sentosa through Genting Singapore.

  Aftermath

  The project became a major international expression of Genting’s destination-resort model.

  Source

1. 1Genting Groupen.wikipedia.org