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Poker collection transferred to Commerce
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Posted on Mar 14 2005
Citing a lack of personnel, the Department of Finance has temporarily relinquished its duty to collect poker and amusement fees, turning over this responsibility to the Department of Commerce.
In a memorandum of agreement, Finance Secretary Fermin M. Atalig transferred the enforcement of poker/amusement machines and cash register revenue laws to Commerce, saying his department is acutely understaffed to do the collection.
He said he only has two personnel assigned to go after poker operators.
This situation, he said, has resulted in the government collecting poker and amusement revenues “below expectations.”
The agreement, dated March 10, was signed by Commerce Secretary Andrew S. Salas.
“The Department of Finance is currently encountering difficulties enforcing the revenue laws regarding the poker/amusement machines and cash registers due to insufficient number of enforcement personnel,” reads a portion of the one-page agreement.
It said Commerce maintains 10 personnel who can be tapped for the collection purposes. They are currently assigned to the Alcohol Beverage and Tobacco Control as well as Weights and Measures, and Taxicabs laws enforcement.
The agreement further provides that Finance will temporarily transfer its two full-time employees to the Department of Commerce for the purpose of enforcing the revenue laws regarding poker/amusement machines and cash registers.
The Department of Finance disclosed last year that the government lost nearly 50 percent of expected revenues from poker machines. The department said that, instead of collecting $14 million, it received only $7 million to $8.2 million.
There are reportedly 1,200 poker machines on Saipan. The annual license fee for each machine amounts to $12,000.
