By Haidee V. Eugenio
Variety Assistant Editor

A REPRESENTATIVE of Bridge Capital LLC, the financial services company that acquired the government’s debt to one of the principal owners of La Fiesta Mall in San Roque, yesterday told the Rotary Club of Saipan that there’s “intent” to look into casino gaming on Saipan.
“We think Saipan is a viable (venue) for casinos. We don’t think Tinian will do well. Saipan will do extremely well,” Jon Anderson, special projects manager loan officer and director of public relations of Bridge Capital LLC, told Rotary Club members and guests at the Hyatt Regency.
But in an interview after the Rotary Club meeting, Anderson didn’t categorically say whether Bridge Capital is investing in a casino but did say that “Bridge Capital will look at any investment possibility that we think is viable and could make money.”
Saipan voters rejected the proposal to have casino gaming on island.
Right now, only Tinian allows casino operations, but so far, only Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino is operational.
“We are not specifically a casino company; we’re not looking to build casinos or operate casinos but we don’t turn away from casino opportunities if they present themselves. So the answer is, if we saw something with a potential…Right now it really is a political issue. It’s a public policy issue,” Anderson said.
Bridge Capital recently offered the government of Guam $100 million as pre-payment for future gaming taxes in exchange for amendments to Guam law that would permit all forms of casino gaming at facilities that it operates, particularly the Guam Greyhound Park.
The Guam government turned down Bridge Capital’s $100 million offer.
When asked whether Bridge Capital will be willing to offer the same amount to the CNMI in exchange for allowing casino gaming on Saipan, Anderson said the nature of the two is different.
“But anything is open for discussion. That, however, will definitely be up to Mr. (John) Baldwin and Mr. (Shawn) Scott (principals of Bridge Capital),” said Anderson.
Bridge Capital recently made $49,000 donations to CNMI public schools and community organizations.
Saipan, according to Anderson, “is the most viable place in the Northern Marianas for a casino gaming. Saipan has the established hotels, the number of rooms needed, and other kinds of entertainment, beaches, and golf courses. Saipan is a very well developed tourist destination so adding casino gaming to Saipan would be profitable.”
Bridge Capital also owns Guam Greyhound Park, which recently offered the government of Guam $100 million as pre-payment for future gaming taxes in exchange for amendments to Guam law that would permit all forms of casino gaming at facilities that it operates.
The Guam government turned down Bridge Capital’s $100 million offer.
Bridge Capital, which relocated to Saipan from the U.S. Virgin Islands, is capable of making commercial loans between $1 million and $100 million for large ventures.
Anderson said because there is no full casino gaming permitted on Saipan, it is moot to discuss investments in casino here, adding that this is a public policy issue.
“It’s not up to us to decide what to do. That question is something for the politicians and policymakers to decide,” he added.
Bridge Capital LLC signed a deal, for an undisclosed amount, with the government regarding the lease on the land where the mall was built.
The government will now pay Bridge Capital the amount it owes Cocos Lagoon Development, the original mall owner, which is the balance of the $7.5 million price of the mall acquired by the Babauta administration in 2004 for Northern Marianas College’s Pacific Gateway Project.
“We have an involvement with La Fiesta because we bought a note basically we bought a long term obligation from the Cocos Lagoon Development. We felt that there might be some potential for that place. But at the moment, the decision as to what happens to the building has to be made by the government of the CNMI,” he said.