Saipan dismisses poker proposal

Northern Marianas Governor Ralph Torres vetoed the gaming expansion proposal to allow poker operations.

Northern Mariana Islands.- Ralph Torres, Governor of Northern Mariana Islands, vetoed this week a gaming expansion proposal. The project aimed at setting legal poker operations throughout licensed gaming salons in some villages of the island of Saipan, although the current government was firmly against the measure.

According to local press, Torres argued that “he had reservations about the nature of economic growth the measure would bring to the areas,” and he decided to stop the proposal, which was previously approved by the Congress. The measure follows a national debate to relocate poker arcades from villages and non-specific areas into designated zones.
“Poker machines affected by the relocation from the villages are expected to cost the CNMI government about $US1.4 million in revenue, which is a source of funds for the Saipan Higher Education Financial Assistance scholarship program,” revealed the RNZ radio after the veto was signed.

Earlier this year, a new poker bill was signed into law. The new bill that was introduced by Reps. John Paul Sablan, Frank Aguon, Joseph Leepan Guerrero, Alice Igitol, Greg Sablan Jr. and Vice Speaker Janet Maratita, allows adult gaming machines to be operated within certain areas zoned mixed commercial. Furthermore, the new law’s key provision added Orchid Street to the list of areas where poker parlours are now allowed to operate. However, the government was still in discussion to allow further poker arcades.