The Rota Casino Gaming Commission, in an e-mail, said the investor, Rota Treasure Island Casino, is owned by Rota Treasure Island Corp., a group of Japanese, local and stateside investors.
The commission said it held a “dry run” for the people of Rota so they could see what the casino offered.
“No money or betting with money was done during the ‘dry run’ that was held on Aug. 8 and 9, in the evening, for 3 to 4 hours each night,” the commission said.
Masahito Watanabe, president of Rota Treasure Island Casino, hosted the dry run.
“It was very successful, the professionalism of the casino staff was great, and the Rota community members who took part were all appreciative of the new industry,” the commission said.
The grand opening of the casino, which is located at the Rota Hotel, is tentatively set for Oct. 10.
Flights
Manglona, Ind.-Rota, said he has set exploratory talks with the Marianas Visitors Authority and Cape Air to discuss direct flights to the island.
The management of Rota Treasure Island Casino, he said, is also considering starting a new airline.
“We are looking at a package for our target market of Guam,” the lawmaker said.
Every year, Manglona said Rota gets 14 chartered flights arranged by Pacific Development Inc.
He said they will ask PDI to double the number of chartered flights once the casino opens.
Manglona will also ask MVA to help revive Rota’s Japanese market.
Compliance
The commission said the investors have complied with the minimum investment requirement of $5 million.
The investors also complied with “all the terms and agreement stipulated in the Rota Casino Act of 2007 and the
RCGC Rules and Regulations published in the Commonwealth Register,” the commission said.
The Rota Hotel is the non-gaming service provider to the casino investor, the commission added.
All casino employees, and those with the casino floor workforce, including the managers and supervisors, must be licensed by the commission.
Besides Rota Treasure Island Casino, three other corporations picked an application form for a casino license.
However, the commission said, to this date, only one submitted the application and was given a conditional license — Rota Treasure Island Corp.
