Imperial Pacific faces indefinite gaming licence suspension
The Commonwealth Casino Commission has ordered the suspension of Imperial Pacific International’s gaming licence and ordered the casino operator to pay a penalty plus regulatory fees.
Northern Mariana Islands.- Imperial Pacific International’s (IPI) gaming licence has been suspended indefinitely as the operator failed to comply with regulatory orders.
The Commonwealth Casino Commission board has ordered IPI to pay a penalty of US$6.6m, an annual casino exclusive licence fee of US$15.5m and annual casino regulatory fees of US$3.1m.
According to local media Tiberius Mocanu, IPI counsel, the company still has to review the order. CCC board chair Edward C. DeLeon Guerrero stated the gaming licence suspension will last until the company settles its outstanding payments.
Imperial Pacific’s gaming licence suspension will be effective from May 10 onwards, but the casino is already closed due to Covid-19 measures.
According to the Commonwealth Casino Commission (CCC), Imperial Pacific International had violated five orders including a failure to pay its US$3.1m annual regulatory fee in 2020 and failure to comply with an order to settle debts with vendors.
In an interview with the Saipan Tribune newspaper, Guerrero warned that if IPI does not make payments in six months, the CCC is likely to seek the revocation of its gaming licence.
