With a huge question mark on the islands\u2019 casino industry, can online gambling pose as an alternative?<\/p>\n
Rep. Donald M. Manglona (Ind-Rota) addressed this question to members of the Governor\u2019s Economic Recovery Team, during Monday\u2019s House of Representatives committees on Commerce and Tourism hearing on the CNMI\u2019s economic recovery plan.<\/p>\n
Manglona asked if the Torres administration is looking into online gaming, given the closure of the casino and poker arcades and the income that the CNMI gets from the industry. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a sizable amount of income that we get to support all these other services. I know the online gaming bill is in the Senate but it hasn\u2019t been acted on. Is this something the administration is looking at or is it not really much of a priority?\u201d asked Manglona.<\/p>\n
The bill, H.B. 21-31, DH1, to which Manglona voted \u201cno\u201d for passage at the House last February, allows senatorial districts to establish and regulate internet gaming. <\/p>\n
Rep. Joseph Lee Pan Guerrero (R-Saipan) also followed up with a question on the next step, should a proposal reflecting social distancing and other mitigation measures be submitted by the casino industry to the Economic Recovery Team, or the COVID-19 Task Force for review.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the event that IPI comes up with a proposal and submit to your office for review, or the task force, considering the size of the facility, should they have a good plan, will the task force assign front-liners to the facility to ensure social distancing is applied?\u201d Guerrero asked.<\/p>\n
Although Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. chief executive officer Esther Mu\u00f1a would not say yes or no, she replied that one of the discussions on the economic recovery plan is to ensure that a monitoring system be in place in businesses. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe task force will be involved in making sure that business establishments are getting the guidance, that they follow those [guides], and somebody checks on them\u2026check to make sure that they\u2019re still protecting employees and protecting consumers, There\u2019s going to be that responsibility of the task force,\u201d Mu\u00f1a said. CHCC is one of the primary members of the Governor\u2019s COVID-19 Task Force.<\/p>\n
While there was no direct response to the legislators\u2019 question, Matt Deleon Guerrero, a member of the Governor\u2019s Economic Recovery team, said that restrictions currently apply to casinos, based on Torres\u2019 directive. <\/p>\n
In one of his directives addressed to promote social distancing and prevent the spread of COVID-19, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres had ordered the closure of casinos, video poker establishments, e-gaming facilities, and all other businesses engaged in gaming in the CNMI since April.<\/p>\n
Also, earlier this month, the Department of Finance denounced reports of illegal lottery games on social media, and asked that people report groups that are hosting illegal gambling on social media by calling 664-1100 or by contacting the Attorney General\u2019s Office at 237-7500.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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