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Casino industry on Rota pushed anew
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Posted on Nov 16 2006
A new push is underway to establish casino gaming on Rota.
Rep. Crispin M. Ogo has drafted a bill that would allow a potentially unlimited number of casinos to be built in the Commonwealth’s eco-tourism center.
Ogo said the bill will not be introduced in the Legislature until the Rota people have had an opportunity to comment on the proposed law. A public hearing on the draft bill is tentatively set for Dec. 1, 2006 on Rota.
“I want the people to understand what the bill is about before I bring it to the House for discussion. The people should be involved and allowed to make changes if they want. If people are in the know, they will support it,” Ogo said in an interview.
The last proposal to legalize casino gaming on Rota was made in the form of an initiative in the November 2003 midterm election. More Rota residents voted in favor of the initiative compared with prior elections, but the “yes” votes were not enough to ratify the plan.
Now in bill form, the current proposal will need only the approval of both Senate and House of Representatives, as well as the governor’s consent, in order to become law.
Ogo’s bill seeks to create a five-member Rota Casino Commission that would regulate the industry. The Rota mayor would appoint the commissioners.
The bill does not cap the number of casino licenses that may be established, as well as the number of casino licenses that may be owned by a person or a group. But it gives the commission the authority to set limits if needed.
The commission may also restrict casinos to specified areas on Rota. Casinos may be on land or floating upon Rota’s waters.
A minimum investment of $10 million is required for each casino license.
The commission may charge a casino license application fee of up to $100,000 and an annual license fee of up to $200,000. The license fee may increase one year after the first license is issued, and the increase should not be for more than 10 percent of the fee in effect.
The Rota gaming tax would be equal to five percent of the gross gaming revenue of any casino. The Rota Municipal Council, subject to the approval of the Rota mayor, would have authority to appropriate casino revenues.
