Previous Story
Bill seeks to authorize 2nd Saipan casino license
|
Posted on Feb 12 2021
Sens. Paul A. Manglona (Ind-Rota) and Edith E. DeLeon Guerrero (D-Saipan) introduced a bill yesterday that will authorize a second casino license in the event the Commonwealth Casino Commission revokes Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC’s exclusive Saipan casino license.
Manglona said he and DeLeon Guerrero filed the bill, Senate Bill 22-23, at yesterday’s Senate session on Tinian.
In an email to Saipan Tribune, Manglona said the bill increases the number of Commonwealth casino license to two, thus eliminating the exclusivity provision, if CCC decides to revoke the present casino operator’s license.
Manglona and DeLeon Guerrero said the legislation would authorize CCC to issue a second casino license in the event it revokes IPI’s exclusive casino license
Under the bill, CCC may re-issue the revoked casino license to another operator under new terms and issue a second license to a new operator.
A few years after it began the construction of its initial gaming facility in Garapan, IPI is now faced with complaints about unpaid wages, labor abuses, substandard staff housing, and other problems with workers and the construction of its gaming facility. The completion date of the initial gaming facility was initially two years after IPI obtained the property. It was extended to August 2018 and extended again to February 2021.
The senators said it is more than probable that IPI will not be able to complete the construction of its initial gaming facility and overcome all of its financial and legal problems which may result in the revocation of its casino license.
“The number of casino license should be increased to two licenses to give another qualified operator the opportunity to establish a new casino [on] Saipan, stimulate the economy with new investments and employment for the CNMI workforce, and compete with the other casino operator to offer the best options and benefits to its patrons and the public,” the senators said.
