Amendments to house Bill 23-85 would allow hotels in Garapan with 30 bedrooms to operate electronic gaming machines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Northern Mariana Islands.- The House Committee on Gaming has deliberated on amendments to House Bill 23-85, signalling potential changes to electronic gaming regulations.\u00a0Chaired by\u00a0Rep. Ralph N. Yumul<\/strong>, the committee proposes revisions that would\u00a0permit hotels in Garapan<\/strong> within specified geographic boundaries and with at least 30 rooms to operate electronic gaming machines (EGMs).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Under the existing\u00a0Tourism Entertainment and Destination Enhancement Act<\/strong>, signed in December 2023, hotels on Saipan with a minimum of 100 rooms can host EGMs. Hotels with fewer than 100 rooms can offer electronic gaming if connected to a golf course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The proposed amendment, H.B. 23-85, would extend this to hotels with over 30 rooms limited by Orchid St. to the south, Beach Road to the east, Micro Beach Road to the north, and Coral Tree Avenue to the west.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Mariana’s Variety, the committee identified just\u00a0three eligible hotels in Garapan<\/strong>: Hanamitsu Hotel at Paseo De Marianas, Micro Beach Hotel at the corner of Coral Avenue and Palm St and Pacific Island Inn on the second floor of Jonny’s Bar on Beach Road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There will be public hearings to gather input from stakeholders, including the Saipan Chamber of Commerce, the Hotel Association of the NMI, electronic gaming operators, and the community at large.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Representative\u00a0Marissa Renee Flores<\/strong>\u00a0has called for the immediate resignation of all Commonwealth Casino Commission (CCC) board members. Flores claimed they had failed to properly regulate casino operator\u00a0Imperial Pacific International (IPI)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Speaking during public comments after the CCC\u2019s monthly board meeting, Flores asserted the urgency of revoking IPI\u2019s casino licence, citing financial expenditure and time wasted. <\/p>\n\n\n\nLawmaker urges Commonwealth Casino Commission board to step down<\/h2>\n\n\n\n