Israeli entrepreneur sues tycoon over Macau casino contract

The Las Vegas gambling tycoon behind one of Macau's new casino complexes is being sued by a businessman who claims he is entitled to a share of the profits.

Israeli entrepreneur Moshe Hananel says he came up with the idea for billionaire Sheldon Adelson, 70, to invest in Macau and drew up a business plan that helped Mr Adelson's consortium secure the deal.

Mr Hananel, who worked for Mr Adelson until 2000, has filed a lawsuit in a Tel Aviv court against the owner of The Venetian casino in Las Vegas. A hearing has been scheduled for next month.

A countersuit has been filed by Mr Adelson and one of his companies, Interface Partners International (IPI), accusing Mr Hananel of misappropriating funds at IPI.

The legal wrangle comes two months before the Galaxy consortium, which Mr Adelson heads with Hong Kong tycoon Lui Chi-wo, is due to open its Macau casino next to the Mandarin Oriental hotel. Speaking from Las Vegas, Mr Adelson's spokesman, David Friedman, described Mr Hananel's claims as 'completely baseless'.

'Mr Hananel is a disgruntled former employee ... For him to be claiming he was the cause of any of our success in Macau is absurd.'

In an 80-page submission to the District Labour Court, Mr Hananel claims he was suddenly dismissed by Mr Adelson in 2000 after working closely with him for more than two years and putting the idea for the Macau venture to him.