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Torres congratulates IPI on casino opening
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres looks forward to the opening of Imperial Pacific Resort’s casino, while expecting larger revenue numbers and opportunities for the community once it opens this afternoon.
“It’s been a long process that the administration, the attorney general, and [representatives] of Best Sunshine have worked together to make sure that all the regulations are done right,” said Torres in an interview with Saipan Tribune during the Liberation Day festivities last Tuesday.
In an earlier interview, Finance Secretary Larissa Larson expects a larger revenue for the CNMI once the live training facility moves to the Imperial Pacific hotel premises’ casino area, which is ready for operation.
“They have more private rooms, tables, and a bigger space. Now, Best Sunshine can claim a building and property that is theirs,” said Torres, when asked to comment on the opening. “I look forward to having better revenue and more employment opportunities for the community.”
The IPR casino is set to be open to the public starting today from 5pm onwards. Sources familiar with the matter refers to it as a “transfer of facilities” and describes the event as simply a “continuation of business operation” but at a different location.
A representative from IPR also stated that a formal opening ceremony is to be expected at a later date. The representative failed to disclose specifics.
The IPR casino was granted permission by the Commonwealth Casino Commission to move its live training facility at T Galleria to the IPR premises last June 29, 2017. After the Commonwealth Lottery Commission amended the casino license agreement, which effectively removed the required 250-hotel room requirement to open the casino on the same day, the CCC followed by giving IPR the go-signal to transfer.
