Michael Charlton, Independent
Mike Charlton is a British business leader with more than 30 years’ experience building betting, gaming and lottery businesses across Asia-Pacific — from founding Ladbrokes’ first Asia office to leading Entain’s Asia-Pacific growth strategy for over a decade.
Across his career, Mike has taken products from concept to multi-million-dollar revenue and built government relationships at ministerial level in some of the region’s most complex regulatory markets — including projects spanning China, Vietnam, India, France, Russia, the Philippines, Japan and the USA. He served concurrently as Director across four Entain Group subsidiaries, combining commercial delivery with governance oversight throughout a career spent navigating the fast-changing world of Asian gaming regulation.
Since stepping down from Entain in 2025, Mike has relocated to Cambodia and now works as an independent strategic advisor, helping emerging technology and regulated-market businesses navigate commercial strategy, market entry and growth across the region.
A fluent traveller of the region’s boardrooms as much as its back-alleys, Mike holds Chinese language qualifications, a China Permanent Resident’s Card, and driving licences across three countries — proof that he doesn’t just talk about market entry, he lives it. Away from the desk, he’s a keen golfer (and former Chairman of the Beijing Golfers Club) and a long-distance trekker, always chasing the next challenging route, on the course or off it.
Mike brings three decades of frontline experience building betting and gaming businesses in some of the world’s toughest, most rewarding markets — insight shaped as much by boardrooms as by the ground-level realities of doing business across Asia.
Luís Mesquita de Melo, Partner, J.A. Pinto Ribeiro & Associados
Luis has a wealth of over 23 years of experience during which he assumed a broad range of legal roles, extending from teaching law to advisory positions at Governments highest level, senior corporate executive positions and private practice. He was Executive Vice-President, General Counsel and Joint Company Secretary for Sands China Ltd. with a leading role in the development of the Las Vegas Sands Corp Group business opening the Venetian Macau Resort Hotel and the Four Seasons Macau, successfully listing Sands China Ltd in the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and obtaining financing for the Group’s business in Macau in excess of USD$ 5 billion. He was a Government Lawyer for Macau Legislative Modernization Commission, legal Advisor to the President of the Macau Legislative Assembly and for the Minister of Economy of Portugal. As senior Executive with Sands China, for over five years, he developed an unique set of skills in all matters related to Gaming & Hospitality, Corporate, Banking & Finance and Listing Rules.
He was a Partner of MdME, a Macau based law firm, where he developed the firm’s Gaming & Hospitality practice providing services and advising gaming operators, gaming promoters, gaming equipment manufacturers at all levels of the gaming industry market in Macau and regionally in other jurisdictions.
He was Chief Legal Counsel for NagaCorp (HKEx 3918).
NagaCorp Ltd. is the largest hotel, gaming and leisure operator in Cambodia, and the Company has been listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “Stock Exchange”) since 2006. In fact, NagaCorp became the first company with operations in Cambodia to become a public listed entity, as well as the first gaming-related company traded on the Stock Exchange. Its flagship, NagaWorld, is Phnom Penh’s only integrated hotel-casino entertainment complex, under a 70-year casino licence that will run till 2065, as well as a 41-year monopoly within a 200km radius of Phnom Penh that expires in 2035.
Chief Legal Officer for Asian Coast Development Ltd.
Asian Coast Development (Canada) Ltd. (ACDL) is an international development company specializing in integrated resort destinations. ACDL, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Ho Tram Project Company Ltd, is the developer of the Ho Tram Strip, a group of integrated resorts to be located on more than 400 acres of land and more than two kilometers of pristine beach in Ho Tram, and approved in an Investment Certificate issued by the Government of Vietnam.
The Ho Tram Strip will ultimately comprise:
The Grand – Ho Tram Strip, our 1,100 room integrated resort
The Bluffs, our Greg Norman designed Championship golf course
General Counsel for Hoiana South Development Ltd. (“HASD”)
Hoiana Resort & Golf is Vietnam’s premier US $4 billion, 985-hectare luxury beach integrated resort standing as one of the largest integrated destination casinos in Southeast Asia. Operating under a foreigner-only gaming framework, the property features a major gaming floor with 140 tables, nearly 300 electronic machines [asgam], and an ultra-exclusive high-roller VIP Sky Casino. Its operational Phase 1 boasts over 1,200 luxury hotel keys [asgam], an award-winning Robert Trent Jones Jr. links golf course, and more than 20 dining venues along a 4-kilometer beachfront. Backed by international investors.
Awards and Recognitions
Chambers and Partners Asia 2014, General Business Law (Band 2): Luis Mesquita de Melo is widely recognised as “a true gaming specialist.” He brings to his work the especially notable advantage of having been an executive with a major gaming operator, giving him valuable insights into that business and the associated financial, regulatory and hospitality spheres.
Chambers and Partners, Asia-Pacific Region, Gaming & Gambling 2014 (Band 1): Luis Mesquita de Melo is considered one of the best gaming lawyers in Macau. Peers say: “He’s very strong in this area,” and praise his experience gained as a result of being former in-house counsel at Sands China. He has recently been advising clients outside of Macau, including those in Vietnam.
Chambers and Partners, Gaming & Gambling Global-wide (Band 3): Macau-based Luis Mesquita de Melo of MdME is well known for his gaming work and is described by peers as “an excellent lawyer.” He has over two decades of experience and has previously worked as general counsel for a gaming operator in Macau, working on its IPO and establishment of a resort in Macau.
Other Activities
Katrina Nepomuceno, Special Counsel, Gruba Law
Katrina de Lima Nepomuceno is Special Counsel at Gruba Law and has over two decades of experience in the Philippine gaming industry. She has worked extensively with key government institutions and regulators, including the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA), the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC), and the Philippine Congress. Combining deep regulatory experience with expertise in corporate strategy and high-stakes M&A transactions, she offers practical insights into the legal, regulatory, and commercial considerations essential to succeeding in the Philippine gaming market.
Atty. Nepomuceno is a seasoned legal professional with over 25 years of experience in corporate law and regulatory compliance, and is a member of the Philippine Bar. She is widely recognised as one of the few legal practitioners in Southeast Asia with deep specialisation in gaming law. covering both land-based and internet gaming operations.
She previously served as Vice President for Legal, Corporate Secretary, and Compliance Officer of Leisure and Resorts World Corporation (now DigiPlus Interactive Corp.), a publicly listed gaming and leisure conglomerate in the Philippines. She also served as President of its subsidiary. AB Leisure Global. Inc. In these roles. she led corporate legal strategy. advised on regulatory compliance. and oversaw high-stakes negotiations involving mergers. acquisitions. and joint ventures. Her work regularly interfaced with key government regulators such as PAGCOR. CEZA, the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC), DENR, DAR, and the Philippine Reclamation Authority, as well as the Philippine Congress.
Atty. Nepomuceno was instrumental in crafting internet gaming policies for the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) and served for nearly two (2) decades as legal counsel to First Cagayan Leisure and Resort Corporation, a pioneer in Philippine online gaming licensing. Her contribution to the evolution of gaming regulation in the region has been recognised through speaking engagements at international gaming conferences in Macau. Singapore. the United States, and Europe.
In addition to her work in the gaming sector. Atty. Nepomuceno provides strategic legal counsel to local governments and has led key development projects. She advised the City of Bacolod on the Php2.1Billion Bacolod Super City Project, a major public-private partnership. She currently advises on the city’s flagship housing initiative, the Yuhum Housing Project, under the national 4PH program. Her government relations practice includes extensive experience in legislative engagement and multi-agency coordination.
David Carruthers, Principal & CEO, David Carruthers Consulting
David Carruthers: A Driven Leader, Accomplished Entrepreneur, and Transformative Business Consultant.
David Carruthers is a seasoned executive with an exceptional track record of success as a CEO, entrepreneur, and business consultant. His unwavering commitment to excellence, coupled with his dynamic leadership style and proven ability to navigate complex challenges, has propelled him to the forefront of the business world.
A champion of innovation and transformation, a master of business strategy, he navigates global challenges with confidence, has a proven track record of accomplishment, a true visionary leader with a passion for excellence.
David’s boundless energy, proven ability to succeed, self-discipline, and infectious sense of humour set him apart. His unwavering commitment to excellence and his ability to inspire and motivate teams have earned him the respect and admiration of his peers.
