By a vote of 3-1, the Lottery Commission reconsidered Friday noon its May 9 decision to reject Marianas Stars Entertainment Inc.\u2019s application. <\/p>\n
This means Marianas Stars Entertainment Inc., just like Best Sunshine International Ltd., will still have a chance to be granted a license to exclusively develop a minimum $2 billion casino resort on Saipan.<\/p>\n
The three commissioners\u2019 votes were from chairman and Commerce Secretary Sixto Igisomar, Finance Secretary Larrisa Larson, and Deputy Attorney General Gil Birnbrich. The no vote was from Public Safety Commissioner James Deleon Guerrero.<\/p>\n
But the commission\u2019s approval of Marianas Stars\u2019 request for reconsideration has two conditions–that a $30 million has to be deposited in escrow by 3pm on Monday, May 19; and Marianas Stars has to make a presentation about its business plan at 10am on Tuesday, May 20.<\/p>\n
The four-member commission also adopted a motion to amend the contracts with casino investigator B2G Global Strategies and gaming consultant The Innovation Group of Companies, following the reconsideration of the second investor group\u2019s casino application.<\/p>\n
Commission counsel Jim Stump said a written decision will be issued shortly.<\/p>\n
Igisomar said the written decision will state the \u201cwhy\u201d and \u201chow\u201d of the commission\u2019s decision.<\/p>\n
Attorney Sean Frink, counsel for Marianas Stars along with Marcia Schulz, said the deadlines followed by the Lottery Commission were not in accordance with Public Law 18-43, which amended the original casino law or PL 18-38. He said the correct deadline for the $30 million deposit is May 16.<\/p>\n
The commission went into an executive session for about an hour. When the public session resumed, they voted on a motion to reconsider or not reconsider their May 9 decision and to re-accept Marianas\u2019 Stars application.<\/p>\n
Cario Hon of Marianas Stars, flanked by other executives of the investor group and their consultant, later told reporters that they are \u201cvery happy to hear this.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said there may have been \u201cmisunderstanding\u201d or \u201cmisleading\u201d communication that occurred, leading to the commission\u2019s original decision.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will try our best\u2026We are very confident in our project,\u201d Hon said. <\/p>\n
Full story in Monday\u2019s paper.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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