As expected, gaming regulators in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) have issued 60-day termination notices to 22 employees, or 60 percent of their workforce.
The move followed the closure of Imperial Palace Saipan, the only casino resort on the CNMI’s largest island, which has faced years of turbulence due to financial problems, regulatory breaches and labor-related lawsuits.
The casino, run by Imperial Pacific International (IPI), recently saw its gaming license suspended. IPI has been given six months to repay its $15.5 million casino license fee and US$3.1 million regulatory fee as well as a US$6.6 million fine or risk having its license revoked.
According to local media, the Commonwealth Casino Commission (CCC) in addition to the workers who will be cut, a number of other staff saw the handwriting on the wall and have already found other employment. The casino has been closed for 16 months due to Covid-19.
