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Rolling chip program authorized
The Commonwealth Casino Commission has authorized a rolling chip program with recently approved junket regulations.
Edward C. Deleon Guerrero, commission executive director, explains that the rolling program is a widely used marketing program to entice baccarat players in Asian casinos including Australia, Macau, Singapore, Philippine, Malaysia, Cambodia, etc.
Based on the turnover of the non-negotiable chips, he said, the casino rebates a percentage of the potential win back to the players.
“As the Best Sunshine’s customers are mainly from Asia, the commission adopted the recent junket regulation so the casino could be in line with other competitors in the region,” he said.
As part of the recently approved junket regulations, which regulate junket operators who bring in high-rollers to play at the Saipan casino, the commission will get 0.01 percent off the “rolling volume” as part of the junket fee. Best Sunshine Ltd., the Saipan casino licensee, pays this fee.
“The rolling volume depends on the kind of turnovers the players generate,” Guerrero said. “The casino and the junket operators are anticipated to bring in VIPs, thus rolling volume is anticipated to be quite substantial.”
“Since this is a new industry on Saipan, the commission does not have a solid or fair estimation of the 0.01 percent of the rolling volume until the program is up and running for a period of time.”
Guerrero said they are confident that the junket regulations are adequate to regulate this activity while allowing some degree of competitiveness for Best Sunshine.
