By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

EVEN as a campaign for casino legalization on Saipan has begun, the Tinian legislative delegation says it intends to amend the rule limiting the number of casino investors to five.
Sen. Henry H. San Nicolas, Covenant-Tinain and chairman of the delegation, said once the island has five casino licensees, they will propose that the number of licensees be increased to seven.
There are four casino license holders on Tinian but the Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino has been the sole operator since 1998.
The other casino investors are Bridge Investment Group, Marianas Resort Development Corp. Inc. and Tony Guerrero.
“We’re not in favor of bringing the casino industry to Saipan or allowing the operation of the same industry on Saipan,” San Nicolas said. “In fact, I would like to see more casinos built on Tinian and not only five which is the current limit,” he said.
San Nicolas said Tinian casinos will not only benefit his island but the entire CNMI as well.
“If they’re thinking that it’s only for Tinian, it’s not. The whole CNMI will benefit from these casinos,” San Nicolas said, adding that because they’re seeing big economic potential on Tinian he intends to work on legislation that will allow additional casino investors.
“We can accommodate 2 more, and we want to see these in the near future,” he said.
The Department of Public Lands recently endorsed Marianas Resort Development Corp.’s land lease agreement which now goes to the Legislature for approval.
San Nicolas said MRDC can begin construction of its facility which will include a golf course.
“Everybody is moving along with regard to casinos….slowly but surely,” he said.
Bridge Investment Group, he said, is also moving forward.
“Unlike MRDC, Bridge Investment has no problem or delay in terms of the land lease agreement because they purchased it from private owners,” San Nicolas said, adding that the company has already completed the clearing of the site for its facility.
San Nicolas said they may grant the fourth license holder, Guerrero, a longer-term casino license as he is the only local businessman investing in the casino industry on Tinian.