By Emmanuel T. Erediano
Variety News Staff

THE number of poker machine licenses has dropped by 31 percent at the end of last year, according to a monthly listing from the Division of Revenue and Taxation.
From 1,525 licenses issued to 128 poker machine establishments in the 2005, the number went down to 1,063 licenses and 100 operators as of Dec, 31, 2006, according to Revenue and Taxation Director Estrellita S. Ada.
The license fee and renewal fee for each poker machine is $12,000 on Saipan and $10,000 on Tinian and Rota.
The total revenue earned from poker machine licenses in 2005 was $18.3 million. As of Dec. 31, 2006, the revenue was down to $12.7 million.
The decrease in the number of licensed poker machines happened only on Saipan.
The number increased from 89 to 112 on Tinian and from 83 to 89 on Rota.
The decline started when the payment for the renewal of poker machine licenses was changed from quarterly to annual basis.
Before, poker establishments renewed licenses for poker machines every three months.
There is also a decline of patronage in poker establishments which some believe has something to do with the closures of several garment factories last year.