Manibusan: Electronic Gaming bill constitutionally sufficient
Attorney General Edward Manibusan has determined that the electronic gaming bill that Rep. Ralph N. Yumul (Ind-Saipan) had introduced as constitutionally sufficient as it is written.
Manibusan said House Bill 23-85, House Substitute 1, proposes to lower the exemption to operate electronic gaming activities from 100 rooms to 30 rooms for resort properties located within the bounds of Garapan.
He did not comment further on the bill.
Manibusan did inform Yumul in a recent letter that he is available to discuss further issues raised in the legislation and that the lawmaker is free to contact him.
Yumul, who chairs the House of Representatives Gaming Committee, requested the Office of the Attorney General to comment on the legislation.
The bill originally will allow businesses on Saipan that cumulatively own more than 100 hotel rooms to engage in electronic gaming activities.
The revised bill proposes to amend the statute by adding a new subjection, which reads that “the hotel room is defined as a hotel, lodging house, motel, resort motel, apartment, apartment motel, rooming house, but not a private residence, bed and breakfast, condominium, or similar facility that is within an area or neighborhood that is primarily residentials, that 1) serves or functions primarily as a room for transient accommodations by a paying guest and 2) has an area of not less than 135 square feet.”
The substitute bill proposes that gaming activities within Saipan is allowed only in an enclosed area or resort premises that have 100 or more rooms, or 30 or more rooms if located on land within Garapan.
Edward Manibusan
