BigBang Entertainment LLC, which operates VIP gaming services in the U.S. Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) has filed suit against Imperial Pacific International (IPI) for allegedly failing to return funds that had been intended for the junket operator.
Marianas Variety has reported that BigBang, which was licensed to provide junkets between August 2019-August 2021, sued IPI for $352,000 in damages in a case related to IPI’s unfinished casino in Saipan. The lawsuit was filed locally March 31 and moved to U.S. District Court on May 1.
It alleges “breach of contract, sum certain, conversion by demand and refusal, non-gratuitous bailment, negligent breach of fiduciary duty, intentional breach of fiduciary duty, and unjust enrichment.”
According to the plaintiff, it made a junket agreement with IPI in September 2016. BigBang would market the Imperial Palace Saipan and introduce VIP customers. BigBang deposited front money into the casino cage over a period. It claims that at one time IPI had $352,000 in deposits. In March 2020 it was forced to close the casino.
According to the lawsuit, IPI kept the money.
This lawsuit is one of many that have barraged IPI since the closure of the Imperial Palace Saipan. The Commonwealth Casino Commission seeks more than $25 million in back license payments from the company. It suspended the casino license in 2021.
Despite its challenges, IPI says it has a financial backer that will help it right the ship and reopen the casino.
