CNMI House lawmakers are back on Saipan from a fact-finding trip to the Philippines for a gaming summit defending their government-funded travel.  Legislators held a press conference sharing that all bets are off with the casino on Saipan and they're now looking to investors from Korea and Taiwan.

Reprentative Joel Castro Camacho, vice speaker of the CNMI House, said, "This is not a junket trip. This trip was an international conference where many many stakeholders attended." The NMI House Standing Committee on Gaming showing their cards in a press conference, defending their trip to attend the ASEAN gaming summit in the Philippines last week.

While the $2,500 conference fee was waived for them, they've faced public criticism for using office funds to travel. The timing of the trip also under scrutiny amid looming austerity measures. 

Chairman of the House Gaming Committee Representative Ralph Yumul added, "When is the right time to leave, right? This was our opportunity to attend and learn from what the rest of the region are doing."

 
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And they were shocked by what they learned. Lawmakers say they discovered that Imperial Pacific International, which operates the out of operation casino under an exclusive gaming license, is "black listed" in  international gaming. Now, all bets are off and the committee says IPI should have its license revoked, but that power lies in the Commonwealth Casino Commission as it attempts to settle its disputes with IPI. 

Vice-Chair Ed Propst of the House Gaming Committee said, "I do not know why they are sitting on this. I have no idea why. But I will tell you this, is there enough substantial evidence, have they committed enough grievances and enough mistakes to have that license revoked by now? A thousand times over!"

Lawmakers were told that once IPI is out, more investors would be all in from Taiwan and Korea -- part of a renewed focus as NMI Governor Arnold Palacios pivots away from the China market due to geopolitics. One proposal is to scale down the industry to make it more sustainable, allowing for smaller casinos to open with a lower minimum investment. 

"Each hotel if they are interested at a smaller price can have their own gaming here in the CNMI. There is no building of 2,000 rooms, that is not going to happen any time soon," shared Yumul.

The casino's grand structure in Saipan, they say, serves as a reminder to not irresponsibly gamble.

Represenative Marissa Flores said, "The leadership of the commission did not regulate well or adequately understand the consequences of implementing substandard regulations."