Steve Wynn and Sheldon Adelson have had many duels over the years, ranging from strategic disagreements about entering the Chinese gambling enclave of Macau to arguing over the heights of Las Vegas casino resorts.

So, let's add initial public offerings in Hong Kong to the history between the chairman and CEO of Wynn Resorts (Nasdaq: WYNN) and the chairman and CEO of Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS).

Steve Wynn got out of the gate first on Wednesday with an IPO on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange worth the equivalent of US$1.6 billion, representing 25% of his company's Macau subsidiary. The deal is expected to close Oct. 9. The offering price, equivalent to US$1.30 per share, was at the top of the range proposed by underwriters.

Anything you can do, I can do bigger
Wynn Resorts has one Macau casino/resort, and it expects to open an expansion -- Wynn Encore -- during the first half of 2010. Although the company wants more land in Macau, it hasn't yet received government approval.

Adelson has been more aggressive in Macau, with two casino/hotel resorts and another luxury hotel. However, Las Vegas Sands has had to delay several projects "due to difficulties in the capital markets and the overall decline in general economic conditions." It must secure additional financing to complete these projects.

Las Vegas Sands hasn't provided detailson how much it wants to raise in a Hong Kong IPO. In early September, it completed a bond deal with a Citigroup (NYSE: C) unit for US$600 million in anticipation of a listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The bonds are exchangeable for stock if and when the IPO is completed.

Is good news sustainable?
There's been some encouraging signs from Macau recently, including favorable gambling-revenuereports for July and August, which should buck up not only Wynn Resorts and Las Vegas Sands, but also MGM Mirage (NYSE: MGM) and Melco Crown Entertainment (Nasdaq: MPEL). Late last month, Steve Wynn told reporters that China had eased travel restrictionsinto Macau, but he didn't provide a source or many details.

Steve Wynn occupied the headlines then, but the future spotlight belongs to Adelson. With a Hong Kong IPO expected this year, the continued uncertainty about Macau construction, the recent openingof a casino in Bethlehem, Pa., and the anticipated opening of a Singapore casino in the first quarter of 2010, Adelson won't be starving for attention. Investors hope he won't be starving for financing.

This article was originally published as Wynn to Las Vegas Sands: Top Thison Fool.com

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