Bridge Capital LLC is based in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), a Commonwealth that includes the islands of Saipan, Tinian and Rota. The company specialises in real estate acquisition, development, finance and corporate lending and says that it would consider operating a casino on Saipan. A casino has been operating on Tinian since 1998 and the administration there has granted a further licence with others apparently in the pipeline.

Apparently Bridge Capital does not see casinos on Tinian as being a good bet and considers that Saipan would be a better one. So far Saipan has resisted moves to legislate for casinos and sees little support from the public for licensing casinos. Last year a former lawmaker, Manasses Borja, said that as there was a thriving poker industry on Saipan the casino industry should also be welcome.

On 2nd April Bridge Capital announced that it had granted a US$1 million loan to a company in Guam as working capital. Bridge Capital Principal is John K Baldwin, the owner of the Guam greyhound track who has long been pushing for casino legislation in Guam. An offer from him to pay US$1 million in taxes in advance for an exclusive right to operate all forms of casino gaming at the dog track was, on 3rd April, turned down by Governor Felix Camacho on the grounds that the people of Guam had already spoken against casino gaming.

Bridge Capital is unlikely to make a similar offer to Saipan. However, the company considers that the island of Saipan, where it is based, is a prime site for casino development. There are golf courses, beaches, entertainment venues and the infrastructure needed for a tourist destination. The CNMI legislators so far remain unconvinced that casino gambling should spread beyond Tinian, where the law provides for up to five casino licences. (E-04.18.07)

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