Supplier News
North Marianas – Imperial Pacific confirms soft Saipan opening
By Phil - 29 July 2015
Imperial Pacific International has now held a soft opening for a temporary casino on the Pacific Island of Saipan in Northern Mariana Islands, as it builds the permanent facility.
Imperial, one of the largest junket operators in Macau, wants to build the permanent complex, with around 4,000 hotel rooms, over five years with the final phase opening in 2020, at a cost of US$7.1bn.
Operating via a subsidiary company called Best Sunshine International, Imperial has opened the temporary venue at the T Galleria shopping centre with six baccarat tables. Another three tables have been added since the opening whilst over 100 slots are currently being tested and are expected to be fully operational by the end of August.
Best Sunshine CEO Mark Brown said that a two-year lease with T Galleria began on April 15 for a 15-square-meter portion of the ground floor. The $7.1bn permanent casino-hotel project will be located on the site of the former Samoan Housing.
Cai Lingli, Executive Director of Imperial Pacific, said: “The Board is pleased to announce that the Licensee has launched a soft opening of the temporary casino on 26 July 2015. The company has obtained updated CNMI legal opinion and Hong Kong legal opinion. Having reviewed and considered these legal opinions, the company is satisfied that the licensee is operating within the confines of the Saipan Casino Law, Federal law to the extent applicable and the regulations established by the Commonwealth Casino Commission. In conducting gaming activities in the CNMI the Licensee will not be violating any laws of the CNMI and given that neither the company nor any of its subsidiaries would conduct any activities pertaining to the administration or management in HongKong which would involve gambling or bookmaking activity in Hong Kong, the gambling activities will not contravene any applicable laws of Hong Kong (including the Gambling Ordinance) and the Group will not be in breach of the laws of Hong Kong by owning, operating and managing the Gambling Activities. The Company shall ensure that the Gambling Activities at all times comply with the applicable laws in the CNMI and do not contravene the Gambling Ordinance.”
