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IPI will defend exclusive rights to all gaming on Saipan
Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC said yesterday that it will vigorously defend its exclusive rights to all gaming on Saipan.
IPI said it believes that all gaming activity, such as video poker machines and e-gaming, should be under IPI’s exclusive gaming license and be subject to the oversight of the Commonwealth Casino Commission.
IPI issued the statements to clarify its position on gaming exclusivity.
Saipan Tribune published an article yesterday quoting IPI general counsel Michael W. Dotts as saying that IPI’s inability to pay the $15.5 million in annual license fee could be an opportunity for the Legislature to revisit the statute and to open up casino licenses to more applicants.
Dotts said one possibility is that IPI will lose its exclusivity in operating a casino on Saipan but not its license.
IPI said yesterday that the headline of the story can be read to suggest that IPI might be willing to give up its exclusivity to all gaming activity on Saipan.
“That is not the case,” IPI said in a statement.
IPI said the implementation of the casino agreement is now on its sixth year, and that IPI sincerely appeals to the CNMI government to consolidate all gaming activity under one regulatory framework as promised.
IPI said it has approached the Lottery Commission and CCC to try to ensure a healthy and sustainable gaming industry on Saipan with true exclusivity as its foundation.
