The CNMI\u2019s casino gaming industry has a significant role to play in revitalizing and sustaining CNMI\u2019s primary industry\u2014tourism\u2014but the gaming industry cannot succeed nor operate without the presence of the Commonwealth Casino Commission, which regulates it.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s according to CCC board chair Edward C. DeLeon Guerrero, who highlighted the importance of the casino industry in the commission\u2019s request for $3.16 million to be used for personnel, operations, and other related costs, for fiscal year 2024.<\/p>\n
CCC is also asking for 51 full-time employees, which is the same number of positions the CCC had in previous appropriations.<\/p>\n
DeLeon Guerrero submitted CCC\u2019s fiscal year 2024 budget request to the Legislature last March 30, shortly after the CCC board unanimously approved the request during their meeting that day.<\/p>\n
DeLeon Guerrero said the casino industry offers the CNMI a great opportunity to general additional source of revenue that will enable the CNMI to satisfy its financial obligations.<\/p>\n
He said with the loss of American Rescue Plan Act funds, the CNMI needs every available revenue-generating activity to generate additional funds to allow the government to continue delivery of vital public services.<\/p>\n
As the enforcement and regulatory entity for the Saipan gaming industry, the CCC will need $3,167,501 to enable it to implement its mandates, DeLeon Guerrero said.<\/p>\n
Of this amount, he said, they are asking for $1 from the government\u2019s local general fund pursuant to the Office of Management and Budget\u2019s instructions to maintain CCC\u2019s local funding at the fiscal year 2023 funding level and $3,167,500 from the CCC regulatory fee fund.<\/p>\n
Public Law 19-24 authorized the assessment of $3 million on the exclusive casino licensee, Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC, as part of the CCC regulatory fee fund, with the $3 million due on or before Oct. 1 of each year beginning Oct. 1, 2015. However, IPI now owes CCC over $55.4 million after having failed to pay the $15.5 million annual license fee and $3.1 million annual regulatory fee since 2020, DeLeon Guerrero said. <\/p>\n
He said the commission\u2019s budget is based on the $3,150,000 CCC regulatory fee plus the $17,500 from the other regulatory fees already collected and $1 request from local appropriations.<\/p>\n
The chairman said the commission recently lost is entire staffing due to IPI\u2019s nonpayment of the regulatory fees.<\/p>\n
He said funding from the budget request will be used to hire staff and to provide the necessary training and operational resources.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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