The push for casinos in Saipan is heating up.
After four years of turning down House bills to legalise casinos, the Senate has passed a House gaming bill, sending it to Governor Eloy Inos for final approval.
However, the bill isn’t a sure thing. A spokesperson for Inos said it’s not guaranteed he will sign the bill, despite his previous support, because of a number of unspecified changes from previous versions.
Meanwhile, the Marianas Economic Research and Development Foundation plans to circulate a petition calling for a referendum to approve casinos. Saipan voters rejected a similar casino proposal in 2007. The bill calls for 25-year casino licences, $30m in fees upfront and $15m each year after that.
Source: Fantini’s Gaming Report
