Commissioners: Don’t blame us
Hundreds of workers who have already been laid off or face layoffs at Tinian Dynasty Casino in the Northern Marianas Islands may get a reprieve, if recent reports are accurate. Following the temporary closure of the island’s only casino—and its biggest employer—the property’s new investor claims it is getting closer to being approved for a gaming license.
According to the Tinian Gaming Commission, the application by Tinian Entertainment Co. is “substantially complete,” which opens the door, literally, to the resumption of operations.The declaration came after current owner Hong Kong Entertainment said it would completely close both the hotel and casino before the end of the month.
HKE Chairman Wai Chan Chan told Tinian Mayor Joey Patrick San Nicolas the closure was “imminent” because of fallout from Typhoon Souledor, which led to lower visitation numbers and sliding revenues. In August, the casino portion closed, leaving 135 of more than 700 employees out of work. But the hotel remained open. Then came news that the hotel also would close.
However, some observers speculate it’s all a gambit by HKE to speed up the licensing process for new operator Tinian Entertainment Company.
Since opening in 1998, the resort has been vitally important to the Tinian economy, adding about $3 million to government coffers each year, according to the website Yogonet.com. “It was inevitable that the hotel would all together close once the casino operations closed,” said the mayor. “I hope that now that TEC’s application is finally deemed to be substantially complete, the investigation process can be expedited, so that if TEC is found to be a fit applicant, they can assume operations of the casino.”
Lucia Blanco-Maratita, executive director of the gaming commission, insists commissioners cannot be rushed, despite the economic hardship caused by the closure. “While the commission understands the concerns of the Tinian leadership. The commission is also very cognizant of its responsibility of ensuring that only suitable persons are given a casino license,” said Blanco-Maratita.
“We take our responsibility very seriously as we must ensure the integrity of the industry, the integrity of the persons and companies who will be operating a casino and the integrity of casino operations and the regulatory process,” she said.
All this is especially relevant in light of the casino’s past criminal charges for failing to file suspicious activity reports, among other improprieties.
Once additional investigations of TEC are complete, the director said, “if the applicants are found suitable by TCGCC based on that preliminary report, Chinese Strategic and TEC will be given an interim casino authorization while suitability is being completed,” reported the Saipan Tribune.
The commission has faced some heat for not speeding the licensing process, but fired back in a statement saying, “Much blame has been placed on TCGCC. This blame has been the result of much misinformation and lack of understanding. Let’s start with basic truths—If the applicants had all been cooperative with the commission from the very beginning, the casino license or the interim casino authorization could have been issued over a year ago, assuming they would have been found ‘suitable.’”
