Use of poker funds restrained

Saipan lawmakers yesterday moved to temporarily block any legislation that would tap into the poker and pachinko revenues following advice from the administration that the funds have been depleted.

This came after the Department of Finance disclosed that the government is losing $7 million a year, representing 50 percent of expected revenues from poker machines.

The department said that instead of collecting $14 million, it received only $7 million.

There are reportedly 1,200 poker machines on Saipan. The annual license fee for each machine amounts to $12,000.

“We need to suspend any appropriation until we know there’s sufficient funds. The administration is saying that there’s no more funds available,” said Saipan and Northern Island legislative delegation chairman Pete P. Reyes.

In yesterday’s session, the delegation did not act on at least seven local bills that identify poker fees as the funding source.

These include Saipan Local Bills 14-32, 14-36, 14-37, 14-39, 14-40, 14-41, and 14-42.

SLB 14-32, authored by Rep. Timothy Villagomez, aims to appropriate $454,000 from local poker license fees to fund the renovation of the Southern and Northern Community Wellness Centers and the construction of the Kagman Community Wellness Center; 14-36, introduced by Rep. Martin Ada, identifies $10,000 poker fees pay all costs associated in the Palau/Saipan Giant Clam project; 14-49 hopes to appropriate $200,000 to help local farmers defray cost during typhoons Tingting and Chaba; 14-40 wants to appropriate $70,200 as matching fund on the architectural and engineering design for the 1 MG Kanat Tabla tank and waterline project; 14-41 for the $20,000 A&E design for the rehabilitation of Airport sand filtration system; and 14-42 wants to appropriate $300,000 for the renovation and improvement of Garapan, Oleai, Gualo Rai, Lower Navy Hill, Garapan school, and China town basketball courts.

SLB 14-40 to 14-42 are authored by Rep. Jesus Attao.

“All these are referred back to the delegation’s Ways and Means committee for lack of funding as reported by Finance,” said Rep. Justo Quitugua.

Aside from these, the lack of revenues from poker fees also affect the scholarship grants which benefits also benefits from poker and pachinko fees through Public Law 11-2.