Our Team

Leo Chu founded one of Los Angeles’s largest private clothing companies, California Ivy Inc, that had $150 million in sales a year and over 300 employees worldwide. The company was sold to Fortune 500 company Kellwood (NYSE: KWD). After the sale of his clothing company, Chu ventured into the gaming business in 1996 by becoming the owner of Hollywood Park Casino and Crystal Park Casino Hotel in Los Angeles. He also purchased 50% of Lucky Derby Casino near Sacramento, California. Mr. Chu holds the unique distinction as the first and only Asian to own casinos in California. In 2002 Leo Chu’s group was also one of the final six candidates for the inaugural Macau Gaming Licenses which eventually were issued to Steve Wynn, Stanley Ho and Sheldon Adelson. Chu has further extended his business expertise into other fields and is the co-owner of the NBA development basketball team the Anaheim Arsenal.

Leo Chu is also very involved in many other facets of the card room industry. Appointed by former California Governor Gray Davis, Chu served as a former board member on the California Gambling Advisory Board. Mr. Chu is also the board member of both the Golden State Gaming Association (GSGA) and Southern California Casino Association (SCCA). He is also a staunch advocate of responsible gaming and serves on the California Problem Gambling Council and the California Gambling Control Commission. Mr. Chu is also the President of the LACPAC, which is the political PAC of SCCA.

Leo Chu never forgets the value of a community. Not only has Chu donated to many charitable causes around the world, but has also participated in them as well. He serves as Chairman of Morning Light Foundation, which is an organization that focuses in China on building school and giving over 150 scholarships. Mr. Chu is the Founding member of the Peterson Museum’s Checkered Flag 200, and Board of Councilors of the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. Mr. Chu is the Honorary Chairman of many Chinese Benevolent Associations in Los Angeles including the Friends of Shanghai Foundation. He is also recently the Board member of the sponsoring groups for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Rose Parade Float and Now Board member of the Special Olympics in Los Angeles since 1996, now currently on the board of governors.

Leo Chu holds a Bachelor’s Degree equivalent in Textile Engineering from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, formerly the Honk Kong Technical College.