Published on: October 8, 2024, 12:48h.
Last updated on: October 8, 2024, 12:48h.
A Chinese tycoon known in the esports industry was recently seen enjoying casino games at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.
Wang Sicong, aged 36, is the son of Wang Jianlin, a prominent Chinese billionaire. Wang Jianlin is the founder and majority shareholder of China’s leading real estate development firm, Dalian Wanda.
Originally from Dalian, China, Sicong spent part of his education in Singapore and the UK before returning to Singapore to attend the F1 Singapore Grand Prix. During his visit, he took time to enjoy the slot machines at Marina Bay Sands.
Social media users captured images of Wang Sicong playing at the casino, where he was casually betting and passing time on the gaming floor.
Pictures of the Chinese billionaire at Marina Bay Sands first circulated on Weibo, often called the Chinese version of a mix between X and Facebook.
eSports Mogul
After completing his education, Wang Sicong received a gift of CNY500 million (US$71 million) from his father to invest as he wished. He used this capital to establish a private equity firm and the esports organization Invictus Gaming.
Since its creation in 2011, Invictus Gaming has become a leading competitive gaming entity globally. The group fields teams in Dota 2, League of Legends, CS:GO, Starcraft II, Hearthstone, and PUBG.
According to eSports Earnings, Invictus ranks 14th all-time with winnings exceeding $15.2 million from 634 tournaments. The Dota 2 and League of Legends teams have been the top earners, with $9.4 million and $4.3 million in winnings, respectively.
The group’s greatest achievements include winning The Invitational Dota 2 Championships in 2011 and the 2018 League of Legends World Championship.
The Invitational and World Championship are prestigious events in the esports world.
Chinese Censorship
Known as “China’s famous scion,” Wang Sicong is a prominent figure on Chinese social media platforms. Despite being an influencer, he has been embroiled in various controversies, with his remarks on COVID-19 vaccines sparking significant attention.
In April 2022, Wang’s Weibo account, followed by 40 million users, was made inaccessible after the platform deemed his comments to be in violation of regulations. Before his account was suspended, Wang questioned the effectiveness of a Chinese flu remedy distributed during the pandemic.
China’s strict censorship policies extend to online gaming, with websites offering casino games banned in the country. Macau remains the sole Chinese territory where casinos operate legally.