Which would you choose

Which would you choose: Our safety or desperately needed revenue for our government? If we say no to casino, a possible bankruptcy is expected to occur with the government.
With the retirement funds diminishing, our hospital and CUC demanding payment for what our government owes, the need for training and education funding, health insurance, and the Department of Public Safety funding needs, our leaders continue to ask the people of Saipan and the entire CNMI to consider the casino investment for they see the huge amount of money it will generate to solve our problems.

If we choose to have the casino they are proposing, then there are possible things to worry. Even today, as we move away from the poker investment, many problems are still occurring on Saipan. There are drug issues, family bankruptcy issues, children starving, people being robbed and killed, families having financial difficulties due to addiction to gambling, and banks repossessing vehicles. Imagine if we vote for casino.

So, which would you choose? Your safety or risking the chance for a better outcome with lots of issues to deal with that comes with it? Are we ready for that challenge? Taking the risk with bankruptcy also comes with similar issues if poker business is still allowed. If our leaders vote to close all poker arcades that don’t have casino licenses like the Dynasty and the casino on Rota, what do you think the outcome will be? Look at it as a casino for the CNMI, and not just for Tinian and Rota.

Our leaders say that poker is entertainment. If this is true then why is it that a lot of people lose their paycheck on it? Why do they not sleep 24 hours just to gamble their paycheck away? Who do you think is supporting the poker establishment, tourists or our people?

What if they legalize casino and ban all poker establishment outside the casino on all three islands (Saipan, Tinian, and Rota)? Allow casino owner to invite these poker establishments to invest in the casino? Do you think it will make a difference? After all, the Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino is the only one paying for a casino license and I believe they deserve to be respected for that.

Imagine if they do close the poker arcades and government revenue lessens, what do you think will happen? I’m predicting people will find other ways to make fast money, maybe farming, cockfighting, fishing, making doni, or probably just maintaining their jobs or possibly become a drug dealer, or opening a night club. The government might reduce FTEs and salaries, who knows, maybe another host of issues will grow from these changes. That is a risk we have to take in choosing to get rid of pokers. It might not be bad to ask the people of Guam what was the impact when they voted out the poker machines.

It would also be wise to research Mr. Bennett’s suggestion for legalizing cannabis if this would really generate revenue that we desperately need. How much money does alcohol and cigarette generate? How much will the casino generate? How much do the poker establishments generate? And then research how much revenue cannabis generates in places where it is legal.

The CNMI is so small compared to the United States. We are vulnerable to being overcome or taken over by these rich and powerful investors. So be careful what you wish for. God is the only one who can help us now. So, think about it.

Winnie Atalig
San Jose, Tinian