THE Commonwealth Casino Commission has petitioned the Superior Court to enforce its decision to suspend Imperial Pacific International LLC’s exclusive casino license for its failure to pay the community benefit fund, the casino annual license fee and regulatory fee.
The commission also requested the court to issue an order finding that IPI did not comply with Commission Order 2021-002, and that $25,252,570 is now due in full with interest.
On April 22, 2021, the commission suspended IPI’s gaming license, and ordered the casino investor to pay a total of $18.6 million due under the casino license agreement and applicable regulation. The commission also directed IPI to comply with previous orders issued by the regulatory agency.
IPI’s license to conduct gaming was indefinitely suspended until it comes into compliance.
IPI petitioned the Superior Court for a judicial review of CCC’s decision. IPI also wanted the court to determine whether the pandemic constitutes a natural disaster or force majeure.
In March 2022, Associate Judge Wesley Bogdan affirmed the commission’s order and dismissed IPI’s administrative appeal.
Judge Bogdan said CCC’s decision to suspend indefinitely IPI’s exclusive casino license was “not arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, and or not in accordance with the law.”
CCC, represented by Assistant Attorney General Keisha Blaise, informed the court that IPI filed its opening brief in Supreme Court, but did not file a stay with either the Superior Court or the Supreme Court.
Thus, the casino commission’s Commonwealth Order No. 2021-002 is enforceable, Blaise said, adding that to date IPI has failed to make any payments pursuant to the commission’s order.
A casino gaming industry stakeholder who declined to be identified told Variety that many of the assumptions behind the 2014 casino agreement are now invalid, and the CNMI “needs to rethink and recalibrate.”
Precinct 1 Rep. Edwin Propst, for his part, said IPI is a “failed experiment.”
