The required number of signatures has been collected on the island of Saipan in the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) to get the question of casino legislation onto the ballot in November. 20% of the Saipan electorate supported the ballot move and the referendum will now take place. The proposers, CNMI Indigenous Entrepreneurs, must continue with their campaign to build sufficient enthusiasm amongst the islanders to get casino approval.

At present only the island of Tinian has a casino industry. In 1998 the Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino was opened and four other licences are in various stages of being granted. Tinian does not want to lose its monopoly status with regards to casinos, and expects that the larger island of Saipan would attract much of its market. Those pushing for casinos on Saipan claim that expanding the industry there would be beneficial for all the islands.

The local administration of the CNMI has previously stated that it prefers for the casino industry to be developed further on Tinian rather than expand to the other islands, but that the will of the people should prevail. On the island of Rota a bill was drafted last November that would allow an unlimited number of casinos, but it will not be presented to the Legislature until the islanders have had the opportunity to comment on the proposal.

To be ratified, the Saipan casino initiative must be approved by at least two-thirds of the 7,000 registered voters during November’s election. The casino concept is being modelled on the US tribal casinos, with only those of Northern Marianas descent participating. In this way all profits would be reinvested in the local community for the benefit of the indigenous Northern Marianas people.
(E-08.03.07)

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