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Casino regulators lean on DPS for casino ID system
The fiscal year 2016 budget earmarks just $1,000 for the Commonwealth Casino Commission, but regulatory fees—established by an amendment to the casino law, which is now under administration of Gov. Eloy S. Inos for review—will grant regulators the statutory authority to use license fees to fund ID cards for casino employees.
“We cannot live with $1,000,” said Edward C. Deleon Guerrero, executive director of the casino commission. “If this law is passed, we will be able to use our casino regulatory fee for the operation of the casino.”
Saipan Tribune asked Deleon Guerrero if the lack of funding has affected any services for identification cards, for example.
As part of their regulatory function, the commission is responsible for badging and fingerprinting systems.
But Deleon Guerrero said that in the absence of any money to purchase the fingerprinting machines, they aren’t able proceed.
“We are relying on [the Department of Public Safety] to help us out in the fingerprinting and the badging. Once we get the budget then we can do that internally,” he said.
Deleon Guerrero assured that casino employees have never been allowed to work without the proper license since Day 1 of operations on July 26—when the Saipan live gaming facility of Best Sunshine International, Ltd. opened. (Dennis B. Chan)
