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E-gaming firms appeal to Saipan delegation to amend local law
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Posted on Aug 20 2021
MP Holdings LLC and Mariana Entertainment, LLC, which owns Saipan Vegas and Club 88 respectively, wrote Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation chair Sen. Vinson F Sablan (R-Saipan) yesterday to ask the delegation to amend Saipan Local Law 22-6.
It was earlier reported that SLL 22-6, which doubles the license fees imposed on e-gaming machines, that this new tax will likely force the closure of both venues and will result in a loss of 70 jobs.
Bart Jackson, general manager of MP Holdings and Mariana Entertainment, said: “In an effort to find a compromise solution to the harsh effects of the newly doubled license fees on e-gaming machines, I have asked the Saipan delegation to lower the license fee. My opinion is that the new license fee, without a change, is harsh and unreasonable.
“We have respectfully requested an amendment to SLL 22-6 lowering the license fee. We have offered a compromise of $500 increase on the per machine license fee.
“We remain available at any time to meet with members of the Saipan delegation to further discuss the new license fee and to come to a compromise solution. We have already reached out and requested to meet with the delegation, but to date, the delegation has been unwilling to meet with us. We would like an opportunity to present our case to the delegation and to work with the delegation toward a workable compromise that will save the e-gaming industry and will preserve 70 local jobs,” he said. (PR)
