Casino commission to look into internet gaming
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WITH Imperial Pacific International’s future in doubt, the Commonwealth Casino Commission is now looking into internet gaming.
During the commission's regular monthly meeting on Thursday, Chairman Edward C. Deleon Guerrero, the other commissioners and Executive Director Andrew Yeom discussed House Bill 22-47, which proposes to allow and regulate internet gaming in the CNMI.
Authored by Rep. Joseph Leepan Guerrero, H.B. 22-47 has been referred to the House Gaming Committee chaired by Rep. Edwin Propst.
Early this month, Guerrero said the bill should be pulled out of the Gaming Committee and referred to Ways and Means committee because H.B. 22-47 is a revenue-generating measure.
But Propst said his committee is “proceeding very cautiously in the wake of a Financial Crimes Enforcement Network report,” and the other allegations regarding internet gaming.
He also noted “all the problems right now with Imperial Pacific International,” which supports the measure.
Yeom on Thursday told commissioners that New Jersey survived the economic impact of Covid-19 pandemic because it earned “millions of dollars in revenue” from internet gaming. There is a huge potential in internet gaming, he told the commissioners.
He said the commission should ask Guerrero if the bill is for IPI only or open to other investors.
Guerrero has said that “there are other investors” interested in internet gaming in the CNMI.
Commission Vice Chairman Ralph Demapan said, “Let's brainstorm on this” and come up with recommendations to the Legislature for possible amendments to H.B. 22-47.
Commissioner Diego Songao made this request the executive director: “Educate me on this internet gaming so I can inject my two cents.”
Chairman Deleon Guerrero said if H.B. 22-47 becomes law, the casino commission will have to promulgate rules for internet gaming, “to make sure that it will benefit the CNMI and at the same time avoid money laundering.”
Due to lack of funds, the casino commission, which relies solely on the $3 million regulatory fee from IPI, had to terminate over 20 of its employees, and is planning to further reduce the number of its personnel.
