Cabrera, a businessman, is alarmed by Speaker Froilan C. Tenorio’s determination to push for the passage of legislation that will legalize a casino industry on Saipan — the center of business activities in this U.S. commonwealth.
Tenorio believes the casino will revive the CNMI’s sluggish tourism-based economy.
He said the casino will draw more tourists and bring fresh capital to the island.
This, he added, will eventually create more business opportunities and more jobs for the local community.
The speaker plans to introduce the casino legalization bill even though Saipan voters have twice rejected similar proposals in 1979 and 2007.
Cabrera said an economy based on gambling will never thrive because “it’s easy money taken from other people’s weaknesses.”
He said the number of locals vulnerable to gambling addiction may further increase.
“I am opposing it primarily because of the false message that the casino supporters are spreading. The second reason is the adverse social impact that it will create. We already have problems with the poker industry,” he said.
According to RealtyTrac of Irvine, California’s January 2009 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, default notices, auction sale notices and bank possessions were reported on 274,399 U.S. properties during the month.
Nevada, where the Las Vegas and Reno casinos are located, has the highest foreclosure rate with one in every 76 housing units receiving a foreclosure filing.
Cabrera said Las Vegas was purposely made accessible to all parts of the U.S. mainland, even Alaska, to ensure that the casinos have continued patronage.
With the foreclosure rate in Nevada at its highest, Cabrera said there are now more beggars in the state.
“I have some relatives in Nevada. They are saying when they go out now, they don’t bring their purse anymore because more people are begging — mothers with their children. Most of them are homeless. They lost their homes and probably their jobs, too,” said Cabrera.
“The money, whatever that is, is not worth the aggravation, loss of life, and the miseries that are being experienced by members of families, especially the children, and the mounting crimes associated with gambling,” he added.
He said the casino industry proposal on Saipan will never die so long as there are people pushing for it.
But he warned: “Casino is not going to bring economic viability to this place nor will it infuse money.”
He cited as an example Tinian which is home to the Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino.
The multi-million-dollar casino establishment was opened in 1998 but has yet to recover its capital.
“I suppose Tinian is lucky to have Tinian Dynasty. This came at a time when mainland China was taking over Hong Kong [from British control]. There were a lot of people scrambling to take their money out because they were afraid of what’s going to happen,” said Cabrera.
“I don’t think they are making money. I think they’re in the hole and they owe the government taxes,” he added.
