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Lessons learned: Pass the casino bill
I cannot help myself but agree that poker parlor is 100 percent a form of casino and it is nothing new. I want them removed badly because I have seen these well-positioned poker parlors target our locals and I hate that! We should immediately and without delay steer these establishments toward our tourists who enjoy entertainment and have the money to do so.
I support this casino bill but I am worried if there will be an investor who will pay $31 million up front. Take for example Tinian, which passed its Casino Act in 1989. It took Tinian Dynasty 10 years after the Casino Act was passed before it operated. After almost 25 years after the Tinian Casino Act, the Tinian Dynasty remains the one and only casino to ever operate, even though there are four other licenses available. Clearly, Tinian would have been in a much better situation if the exclusivity was granted since the very beginning because the value of such a license would have been more expensive. We should learn from that.
Rota passed its Casino Act in 2007 and its yearly license fee is $400,000 for five years (80,000.00 per year) and no requirements to build a hotel. It has been over seven years and to this date, there is still no casino establishment on Rota. I think Rota should consider granting an exclusive license as well because no one is even showing up.
The proposed casino bill requires $15 million every year plus $1 million non-refundable application fee with possibility of exclusiveness. The investor is also required to build 2,000 rooms! There is absolutely no risk or loss to the Commonwealth with the passage of this casino bill.
I have family members who are retirees and they desperately need their pension and the restoration of the 25-percent reduction. The governor should pass the casino bill and work on its implementation immediately. If you do not pass this casino bill, I will not vote for you.
Jason Aldan
As Lito, Saipan
