Over the past decade, Imperial Pacific International’s Saipan casino project has caused significant damage to the Commonwealth of Northern Marianas Islands, a US Pacific territory located hours away from Asian markets. The project has led to ruins and destruction in Saipan and beyond, including the desecration of ancestral graves and war memorials. It has also been associated with forced labor trafficking and a staggering amount of uncollected gambling debts. Additionally, there have been incidents of corruption, including FBI raids on the governor’s office and admissions of wrongdoing by elected officials.
Despite the casino’s troubled history, there are still those who believe that casino gambling, coupled with the region’s tropical weather and visa-free entry for Chinese tourists, can help boost the struggling economy of CNMI. However, it is important to learn from the mistakes made with the Imperial Pacific International project and ensure that any future casino investors operate ethically and responsibly.
Imperial Pacific International, led by Ji Xiaobo, a former executive of Macau’s Hengsheng Group, has faced criticism for its unrealistic development plans, high levels of VIP rolling chip volumes, and uncollected player debts. These issues have raised concerns about potential money laundering activities.
The construction of Imperial Palace, the casino hotel associated with the project, has been plagued by mismanagement and violations of labor laws, resulting in injuries and suffering for Chinese laborers. Many of IPI’s creditors remain unpaid, while the company owes substantial amounts in gaming debts and regulatory fees.
In light of these problems, some CNMI lawmakers have called for the cancellation of IPI’s exclusive license and the introduction of smaller, more manageable casinos. Experts suggest that a well-regulated casino-hotel, focusing on the Asian market, could have potential for success on Saipan.
