Tinian online gaming bill approved

Governor Arnold I. Palacios’s veto of Senate Local Bill 24-1 has been overridden by the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Northern Mariana Islands.- Senate Local Bill 24-1, which legalises online gambling on Tinian and creates a stable coin for the island, has become law after the House of Representatives voted to override governor Arnold I. Palacios’ veto. The vote, held on Thursday (May 15), saw 14 legislators in favour and two against. One member was absent.

To override the veto, both the House and Senate needed a two-thirds majority. The Senate last week voted seven in favour and one against the move.

According to Mariana’s Variety, representative Patrick San Nicolas said the bill was about transparency and accountability and establishing a modern financial infrastructure. He highlighted the Commonwealth’s economic crisis amid falling tourism and said that enacting Senate Local Bill 24-1 could provide Tinian with a legal system for a digital economy that would not be dependent on tourism or federal aid.

Senate Local Bill 24-1 was introduced by three senators, Karl King-Nabors, Frank Q. Cruz, and Jude U. Hofschneider, who argued that it would support Tinian’s efforts to diversify its economy and become financially independent. Governor Palacios argued that legal advice from attorney general Edward E. Manibusan said the Tinian and Aguiguan Legislative Delegation does not have the authority to regulate matters that are not strictly local to Tinian.

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