THE Commonwealth Casino Commission wants the Legislature to get the opinion of potential investors about internet gaming, which House Bill 22-47 proposes to allow and regulate in the CNMI.
During a House Gaming Committee meeting on Thursday, Casino Commission Executive Director Andrew Yeom was asked by lawmakers if the commission could rehire the employees it terminated recently once H.B. 22-47 becomes law.
“That is for sure,” he replied. “This internet gaming can be a great thing for the Commonwealth if done correctly.”
The commission’s funding source is the $3 million regulatory fee that Imperial Pacific International, the Saipan casino operator, can no longer afford to pay. Faced with several lawsuits, IPI’s casino also shut down in March 2020 amid the global Covid-19 pandemic.
Without casino gambling activity on Saipan, the casino commission recently terminated 22 employees due to a lack of funding.
As a regulatory body, Yeom said the commission wants to learn how a potential investor will operate internet gaming on island.
“They, the operators, are the ones who can tell [us] how to go about these things. I am interested to hear from them myself,” Yeom said.
He also said that there are provisions in H.B. 22-47 that need to be clarified.
For example, the internet gaming license. “Who is the recipient? Who are we really talking about? Are we talking about IPI only or somebody else other than IPI? Is it open to everyone?” Yeom asked.
“There are many things that need to be considered when we are talking about passing this bill,” he added.
Yeom said, based on his 14 years of experience with online gaming in South Korea, “I can assure you there are many ways to go about it. But I am not the one to tell how the operation is set up because I am not here to give that information…. I am here as a regulator.”
In terms of market potential, he added, “I can tell you that there is huge market potential if it is done correctly.”
Rep. Vicente Camacho said: “I really like the words you said, ‘if done correctly.’ It has not happened here in a while.”
Rep. Tina Sablan, for her part, said, “You suggested that this committee solicit opinion from prospective operators. Who would those be, do you know?”
“We do have an exclusive licensee whose license is suspended by the way,” Yeom said, referring to IPI. “But we could ask an opinion from any of the potential beneficiaries of the bill.”
Introduced by Rep. Leepan T. Guerrero in March 2021, H.B. 22-47 is similar to the measure passed by the House and the Senate in the previous Legislature. That bill didn’t reach the governor’s desk because the Senate amended the bill and the House failed to pass the amended version before the previous Legislature adjourned.
Commonwealth Casino Commission Executive Director Andrew Yeom gestures as he answers a question from the House Gaming Committee during a meeting on Thursday in the House chamber.
