Why a casino industry on Saipan will be successful

As everyone knows, Rota and Tinian have existing casino laws authorizing the operation of casinos on their respective islands. Rota had a small casino but it was not successful because it was undercapitalized and is currently closed. The Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino has been operating on Tinian since 1997. However, the hotel stills owes the central government about $30 million in back taxes. So, people of the Commonwealth, wake up and smell the stench of a bankrupt CNMI government.

Leaders of Saipan are very concerned about the state of the entire CNMI economy, especially Saipan, where most of Chamorros and Carolinians reside. They are using their fiduciary duties given to them by the CNMI Constitution to pass a local bill that will allow up to six casinos, including one casino for all indigenous CNMI descent.

Why would a casino industry on Saipan will be successful? Because historically, every industry that has been developed on Saipan has been successful. For example, the garment industry. At one point the industry was exporting well over billion dollars to the United States. Same with the tourism industry. At one point we had over 700,000 tourists coming to Saipan.

With casinos on Saipan, we have the tourist numbers, we have the infrastructure—roads, water, power, hotels, services, entertainment, golf courses, shopping—and all amenities to satisfy them. Investors are not stupid. They will invest in a place that guarantee them a return on their investments and Saipan is the perfect place to do that.

As noted by our former governor and now congressman Froilan Tenorio in last Friday’s news article, Saipan can realize up to $500 million in potential revenue for the local government from a fully developed casino industry. Imagine what this money can do for our government. For one thing, the government can start putting back the 80 hours work time for all government employees. We can fully fund our Retirement Fund system, we can send our patients to good hospitals for their referrals, we can put more funding for the SHEFA scholarship to fund college students as well as our local Northern Marianas Trade Institute students, and many more.

My advice to all members of the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation, pass House Bill 17-44, the Saipan casino bill, so that you can stop once and for all the miseries besetting our islands.