But he said he is not in favor of the total eradication of poker machines on Saipan as recommended by the local business group, the Strategic Economic Development Council, which wants to eliminate all these devices by June 30, 2009.
Poker revenues, he added, fund crucial public services.
“For my own personal position, I am in full support of relocating all poker machines and other forms of gambling machines from the villages on Saipan,” he said.
Tudela said the relocation site should be a “remote and safe location for our residents and tourists who want to spend some time to try their luck.”
In its report, the SEDC cited the increase of poker addiction, rise in criminality and loss of jobs as some of the reasons why poker machines should be phased out.
There are 791 poker machines in the CNMI; 680 on Saipan, 52 on Tinian and 59 on Rota.
Tudela said since the very beginning, poker machines have negatively affected the villages.
“We have seen and witnessed so many criminal acts that have been committed due to the presence of these machines in the villages,” he added. “Already too many to count — the number of poker employees and patrons who were held at gunpoint by robbers.”
The mayor said some of the perpetrators have been caught, but others remain at-large on island.
Over the past five years, Tudela said, the statistic showed a dramatic increase in burglary, thefts and armed robbery cases.
“I believe all these have been attributed to the presence of poker machines, in addition to drug addiction, on island,” he added.
Tudela said the government can’t continue to have the poker and any other gambling machines in a small community like Saipan.
“It has been always my strong position to rid of these machines away from the community,” he said, as he urged lawmakers to enact a law that will remove the machines away from the general population.
