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HANMI backs Saipan casinos but wants poker parlors out
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Posted on Feb 03 2012
The Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands supports the legalization of casino gaming on Saipan but on four conditions that include a phase out of poker gambling on the island.
HANMI board chair Nick Nishikawa of Hyatt Regency Saipan, along with five other officers of the hotel group, made their official position known to lawmakers in a two-page letter that cited the need for the CNMI to generate additional revenue.
“In our joint interest to increase revenue generation for the CNMI, we are writing on behalf of our 12 hotelier members to express our support of casino gaming in Saipan, provided the following conditions are met,” Nishikawa and other HANMI officers told Senate President Paul Manglona (Ind-Rota) and House Speaker Eli Cabrera (R-Saipan).
The hotel group said casino development “shall be in conjunction with other destination enhancement development such as a hotel, a convention center, or an amusement park.”
Another condition is that casino gaming “shall be licensed and regulated under regulations congruent with Nevada Gaming Commission and State Gaming Control Board.”
“The number of casino licenses issued shall be limited. Poker parlor gaming in Saipan shall be phased out,” HANMI officers said.
The House passed its latest bill legalizing casino gaming on Saipan, but that bill is now pending in the Senate which killed a similar legislation in 2010.
Sen. Ralph Torres (R-Saipan), a member of the Senate Committee on Federal Relations and Independent Agencies, said yesterday that the committee has yet to formally meet to discuss the casino bill.
A member of the committee said yesterday a $10 million casino license is “reasonable,” but there shouldn’t be a limit to the number of licenses to be issued so long as they are able to pay the $10 million license and invest in existing major hotels or build new casino resorts.
Press secretary Angel Demapan said Gov. Benigno R. Fitial is poised to sign this House casino bill barring substantive amendments to it.
