Francis Lui stepped up as Galaxy Entertainment Group’s chairman in December 2024, taking the reins from his late father and company founder, Lui Che Woo. By then, Lui had already spent 45 years building the Macau casino giant. Now he is pushing Galaxy past Macau, into Australia, Vietnam, and the Bahamas.
Who Is Francis Lui?
Francis Lui Yiu Tung leads Galaxy Entertainment Group as chairman. GEG is one of six companies licensed to run casinos in Macau. He also chairs K. Wah Group, his family’s property and construction business.
Lui joined the family company in 1979, right after university. He had studied civil and structural engineering at the University of California, Berkeley.
His father grew Galaxy into a Macau gaming powerhouse before passing away in November 2024; he was 95. Francis Lui stepped into the chairman role that December, and he has held it since.
Under his leadership, Galaxy has topped the Power 50 rankings published by Inside Asian Gaming nine times, with seven of those wins coming back to back through 2025. Forbes put the Lui family’s fortune at $12.7 billion on its 2026 Hong Kong rich list, good for ninth place.
Francis Lui’s Career at Galaxy Entertainment
Lui spent nearly five decades working from an entry-level role to the top of Galaxy’s org chart. Here is how that climb played out.
| Year | Milestone |
| 1979 | Joins the family business at Galaxy/K. Wah Group |
| 1987 | Named Executive Director |
| 1997 | Appointed Deputy Chairman |
| 2011 | Galaxy Macau resort opens |
| 2015 | Broadway Macau and Galaxy Macau Phase 2 open |
| Dec 2024 | Becomes Chairman of Galaxy Entertainment Group |
| 2025 | Wins record 7th straight Asian Gaming Power 50 title |
Galaxy did not start as a casino company. Lui’s father built it from a construction materials business. He won one of Macau’s first gaming concessions in 2002.
That outsider status still shapes how Lui runs Galaxy. The company kept a conservative balance sheet through Macau’s boom years, while rivals leaned harder on debt. Galaxy closed out 2025 with more than HK$36 billion, roughly $4.6 billion, in cash and liquid investments.
Why Francis Lui Became Chairman in 2024
Lui Che Woo passed away on November 7, 2024; he was 95 years old. Five weeks after that, Galaxy named Francis Lui the new chairman, with the change taking hold right away.
The move surprised no one. Lui had already served as deputy chairman since 1997, and he helped run Galaxy’s strategy for years.
In his first statement as chairman, Lui thanked his father for his guidance. He pledged to keep building toward what he called “the world’s leading integrated tourism and leisure company.”
Analysts expected a smooth transition, and that is largely what happened. That meant heavy investment in Cotai, a cautious approach to debt, and a bigger push into non-gaming entertainment.
Francis Lui’s Next Chapter: Phase 4, Capella Macau, and Life Beyond Macau
Since taking over, Francis Lui has kept Galaxy’s Cotai expansion moving. Phase 4 of the Galaxy Macau complex is due to finish in 2027. It adds six more hotels and a 4,000-seat theater.
Capella Macau, a luxury property, opened in early 2026 as part of that expansion. Galaxy also hosted roughly 350 concerts, shows, and events across its venues in 2025 alone, chasing non-gaming revenue hard.
Lui is not limiting Galaxy to Macau, either. The group holds a 75% stake in Vietnam’s Hoiana Resort & Golf and a stake near 5% in Australia’s Star Entertainment Group. It also owns a share of Queen’s Wharf Brisbane and an interest in Baha Mar, the Nassau, Bahamas resort popular with American vacationers.
For 2025, Galaxy posted adjusted EBITDA of HK$14.5 billion, about $1.85 billion, up 19% year over year.
Francis Lui vs Macau’s Other Casino Titans
Macau’s casino industry runs on a handful of family dynasties, and Francis Lui is not the only heir running the show. Here is how Galaxy’s chairman stacks up against the two other top-ranked leaders on the 2025 Power 50 list.
| Feature | Francis Lui (Galaxy) | Pansy Ho (MGM China) | Lawrence Ho (Melco) |
| 2025 Power 50 rank | No. 1 (7th year running) | No. 2 | No. 3 |
| Family tie | Son of founder Lui Che Woo | Daughter of founder Stanley Ho | Son of founder Stanley Ho |
| Path to the top | Named chairman after his father’s 2024 death | Co-chair via a 1990s MGM joint venture | Founded Melco as a separate company |
| Signature property | Galaxy Macau | MGM Cotai | City of Dreams |
| Presence outside Macau | Vietnam, Australia, Bahamas | Mostly Macau-focused | Philippines, Cyprus |
The pattern is clear. Macau’s gaming industry stays a family business, even decades after Portugal handed control back to China in 1999.
What sets Lui apart is his reach beyond Macau. MGM China and Melco stay closer to home, while Galaxy has spread into three countries: Vietnam, Australia, and the Bahamas. Las Vegas Sands, whose Sands China arm also chases Macau’s VIP players, was led for decades by Robert Goldstein.
The Bottom Line
Francis Lui spent 45 years working his way to the top of Galaxy Entertainment. He has kept building since taking over in 2024. Phase 4, Capella Macau, and new bets in Vietnam, Australia, and the Bahamas show he is not slowing down.
He has topped Asia’s power rankings longer than anyone else in the list’s history. That is a signal the industry expects Galaxy’s momentum, and Lui’s influence, to keep growing. For more on the leaders shaping the wider online gambling industry, check out our full guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Is Francis Lui, Galaxy’s New Chairman?
Francis Lui Yiu Tung chairs Galaxy Entertainment Group, one of six companies licensed to operate casinos in Macau. He stepped into the role in December 2024, right after his father and Galaxy founder, Lui Che Woo, passed away. By then, Lui had spent 45 years with the company, nearly 30 of them as deputy chairman.
Is Francis Lui the CEO of Galaxy Entertainment?
He holds the chairman title and leads Galaxy’s strategy and public communications, including its earnings calls. Day-to-day operations run through a management team that includes a chief financial officer and chief operating officer. Lui remains the company’s most visible leader.
How much is Francis Lui worth?
Forbes put the family’s fortune at $12.7 billion on its 2026 Hong Kong rich list, placing them ninth. Most of that wealth ties to Galaxy Entertainment Group and the family’s stake in K. Wah Group.
What is Galaxy Entertainment’s Phase 4 project?
Phase 4 is the next stage of the Galaxy Macau expansion, due to finish in 2027. It adds six new hotels and a 4,000-seat theater to the resort’s Cotai footprint.
Does Galaxy Entertainment operate outside Macau?
Yes. Galaxy holds a 75% stake in Vietnam’s Hoiana Resort & Golf and a stake in Australia’s Star Entertainment Group. It also owns a share of Queen’s Wharf Brisbane and an interest in Baha Mar, Nassau, the Bahamas.
