Permanent casino on track for completion in ’16
All systems were go last week as Best Sunshine, a unit of Hong Kong-listed Imperial Pacific, opened a new temporary casino on Saipan in the Marianas Islands in the Galleria Mall. The Saipan Tribune, citing a statement from the company, said Best Sunshine Live will help “change the landscape of gaming in the Pacific.”
The grand opening of the facility, which is now serving as a live-training casino facility until the permanent casino opens, “will herald the entry of a once-sleepy island community into the company of world-class destinations,” the statement continued. It will turn Saipan into a “mecca of global travelers with a gnawing hunger for a new brand of entertainment and leisure.”
Casino consultant Andrew Klebanow called the location “impressive” and “an outstanding effort.”
“We are very excited, and it’s also all about giving thanks and having fun,” said Best Sunshine CEO Mark Brown, quoted by Marianas Variety. “I thank everyone for joining us today—the staff, the government officials and the casino commission for working with us.”
At the soft opening in July, the property only 10 gaming tables in operation, according to GGRAsia. At the grand opening November 27, the property had 600 employees, 45 gaming tables and 106 electronic gaming machines.
The temporary casino will train staff for Imperial Pacific’s planned $7.1 billion integrated resort, Grand Mariana Casino and Hotel Resort on Garapan, which is set to finish construction by December 2016.
Commonwealth Casino Commission Chairman Juan Sablan said the common goal of the company, the commission and the government “is to bring economic stability and safe and sound investment to benefit our people.”
Imperial Pacific has said it expects to work with junket operators “from December 2015 onwards,” reported GGRAsia.
