CNMI casino regulator approves junket regulations

Applications for junket license have been finalized and released to Best Sunshine International, Ltd., the owners of the Saipan casino, and other parties, commission executive director Edward C Deleon Guerrero said and they are anticipating applications soon.

It’s believed that for a casino to be truly successful on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota, the CNMI would need extensive marketing effort—or in the gaming world—a good well-managed, well-regulated junket operations.

“Because they would be the one bringing in the players,” Guerrero told Saipan. “These are the large VIP players.”

“The success of Best Sunshine, or the [Tinian] Dynasty, or Alter City [Group] or any other” casino in this part of the world is “through this program, the junket,” said Guerrero. “Basically, they are the travel agency going around the world to get VIPs to come to Saipan.”

These junket operators could easily bring gamers to Manila, Singapore, or other gaming areas around the world, Guerrero said, but if they choose Saipan, both Best Sunshine and the CNMI has to make this experience possible.

In an interview, Guerroro noted one of the difference between the Macau junket operations and the one Best Sunshine would have.

“In some places in Macau, the junket operator takes over the VIP room,” said Guerrero. “They actually in a sense run the casino. Here, we do not allow that. The junket operator cannot take over a VIP room—it would have to be Best Sunshine and Best Sunshine’s approved and licensed dealers and pit boss that are operating the casino.”

“We do not allow any outside entity to run the casino, or the VIP room, other than the licensee,” added Guerrero. “That’s one difference between us and Macau.”

In ushering the casino industry and the junket operators—seen as the industry’s gaming middlemen—the Commonwealth could look to two stark contrasts in how junkets are run, in Singapore and Macau.