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Two RFPs out for gaming consultant, casino investigator
Lottery Commission meets today on casino applications
Gov. Eloy S. Inos, along with Lt. Gov. Jude U. Hofschneider, issued two separate requests for proposals for a casino investigator and a gaming consultant to assist the Lottery Commission in tackling the two applications for a license to exclusively develop a minimum $2 billion casino resort on Saipan.
In an interview yesterday, Inos said the government “should be getting some response” in the near future.
He reiterated that funding for the consultant and investigator’s hiring would come from the $2 million application fee that the two applicants paid.
The two Saipan casino applicants are Marianas Stars Entertainment, and Best Sunshine International Ltd.
The first RFP is for a “casino resort developer law enforcement review.” In the RFP, the CNMI government said it seeks services of an experienced consultant to examine the gaming and financial background of the proposers.
The second RFP is for a “casino resort development consultant services,” which must examine the two applicants to determine the feasibility of their proposals according to accepted professional standards for project development feasibility analysis.
The Lottery Commission, meanwhile, will hold its first official meeting at 1:30pm today to tackle the casino applications.
Lottery Commission chair Sixto Igisomar, also the Commerce secretary, said there would be time for public comment in the early part of the commission meeting, but this would be limited to about two minutes each.
He said the committee will then go into executive session.
The governor said he might also show up in the beginning of the Lottery Commission meeting.
Inos said yesterday he does not expect that the two applicants would deposit in an escrow account the $30 million ahead of the May 5 deadline, along with the business plan. The escrow deposit is required for an application to be further considered for a grant of an exclusive Saipan casino license.
