Operator News
North Marianas – Imperial Pacific changes resort name as partial opening nears
By Phil - 24 April 2019
Imperial Pacific International has changed the name of its Saipan casino resort from Imperial Pacific Resort to Imperial Palace Saipan.
The name change came as the group confirmed a partial opening of the resort ‘on or before’ September 30 2019.
Cui Li Jie, Executive Director of Imperial Pacific International Holdings, said: “The board of directors of Imperial Pacific International Holdings Limited is pleased to announce that ‘‘Imperial Palace Saipan’’, the phase 1 integrated resort development on the Island of Saipan, will be partially opened on or before 30 September 2019.”
Saipan’s Casino Control Commission had agreed to a new deadline for full completion of February 28 2021. The casino, which operates 193 gaming tables and 365 slot machines, was transferred from its temporary site to the new resort in July 2018. It reported a huge slump in VIP gaming resulting in a loss of HKD2.97bn (US$378m) in 2018.
The project has been hit by continuous scandal including FBI investigations, accusations of money laundering by Bloomberg and legal disputes with a construction partner, as well as being hit by the effects of Typhoon Yutu.
When complete, it will boast a 329-room luxury hotel, 14,140 square meters of gaming area; 3,870 square meters of food and beverage outlets, 186 square meters of retail space; 930 square meters of meeting space, 15 villas; and a 1,500-square meter spa and fitness area.
