Commonwealth Casino Commission Chairman Edward C. Deleon Guerrero, right, confers with Commissioner Mario Taitano during Wednesday’s monthly meeting in the commission’s conference room at Springs Plaza in Gualo Rai.
THE exclusivity of a casino license is no longer in the best interest of the CNMI, Commonwealth Casino Commission Chairman Edward C. Deleon Guerrero said on Wednesday.
During the commission’s regular meeting, he said the Commonwealth should now be exploring all opportunities to generate fresh revenue. He said he recently shared with members of the Senate Gaming Committee his “personal observation” on how to save Saipan’s beleaguered casino industry.
Also present in the CC meeting on Wednesday were Commission Vice Chairman Ralph S. Demapan, Commissioners Mario Taitano and Ramon Dela Cruz as well as Senate Floor Leader Corina L. Magofna, who chairs the Senate Gaming Committee.
Deleon Guerrero said there is a need to re-examine Public Law 18-56, which legalized casino gaming on island, and see how it can be amended to allow for multiple casino licenses.
“I do not think that exclusivity at this point in time is in the best interest of the Commonwealth,” Deleon Guerrero said.
Perhaps back in 2014, an exclusive casino license was the only option to save the Retirement Fund whose time was running out, Deleon Guerrero said. “The clock was ticking back then, and the best and most expeditious way to save the Retirement Fund was to offer an exclusive casino license to entice an investor to invest as quickly as possible.”
That decision saved the CNMI’s pension program “to a large extent,” he added.
But now, he said, “we have matured enough to realize that such a particular setup is probably not in the best interest of the Commonwealth,” referring to the exclusive casino license issued to Imperial Pacific International, which is facing several lawsuits and complaints including from the CCC itself.
IPI’s exclusive license has already been suspended due to its failure to meet its many obligations to the CNMI government.
Deleon Guerrero said should there be any future settlement, “IPI should give up exclusivity.”
He said the Legislature, for its part, should amend the law to allow for additional casino licenses. “It’s up to the policy makers to determine that,” Deleon Guerrero added.
Variety was told that a group of Japanese nationals visited the CNMI a few weeks ago and expressed interest in investing in a casino on Saipan.