Tinian senate overrides veto of online gaming bill

The bill now requires an override vote by the House of Representatives to become law.

Northern Mariana Islands.- The senate has voted to override governor Arnold I. Palacios’ veto of Senate Local Bill 24-1, which seeks to allow internet gaming and create a stablecoin for the island. The vote, held on Friday (May 9), saw seven senators in favour and one against. One member was absent.

The bill now goes to the House of Representatives, which has 20 members (18 from Saipan). It needs a two-thirds majority to become law.

The bill 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 vetoed the bill, citing legal advice from attorney general Edward E. Manibusan, who said that the Tinian and Aguiguan Legislative Delegation does not have the authority to regulate matters that are not strictly local to Tinian.

According to Mariana’s Variety, senator King-Nabors, said the bill establishes a strict and efficient way to manage online gaming. He added that the use of stablecoin in gaming improves transparency and would allow the Tinian Casino Gaming Control Commission to apply federal anti-money laundering, banking and tax laws.

King-Nabors said online gaming would help bring in revenue without harming the environment or requiring physical infrastructure.

Currently, Tinian is home to the only operating casino in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). The Tinian Diamond Casino was developed by the Big Investment Group under the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program. 

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