Tinian gives thumbs up to online gaming

The decision was made on Friday last week when all four members of the Tinian and Aguiguan Legislative Delegation unanimously approved the House Local Bill 20-30 that was introduced by Rep. Edwin Aldan, also amending casino license fees and tax rates.

The bill, which will be now addressed by the Governor, adds (g) to Section 15 of the Revised Tinian Casino Gaming Control Act of 1989, which reads:

“(g) the conduct of internet gaming pursuant to a casino license in accordance with his Act and any other applicable Acts, and the regulations established by the commission to regulate internet gaming and internet gaming operators, and the operating agreement relating to the particular license permitting the conduct of internet gaming is lawful. Operating internet gaming is conditioned on having a hotel with 300 units and an operational hotel-casino complex casino and the implementation of a geolocation software limiting internet gaming activities to within intra-island borders of the Second Senatorial District and between jurisdictions where the conduct of internet gaming is legal.”

The amendment to the license fee provision reads:

“(b) An annual conditional or plenary license fee of $500,000 shall be paid to the commission upon approval of the application provided that when a casino license is issued less than the period of the 12 months of the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, the fee shall be calculated on a quarterly basis and paid on the period remaining.

“a. A licensee may opt to pay an annual conditional or plenary license fee of $2 million and waive payment of casino revenue taxes at the stated tax rate.

“b. A licensee may opt to pay an additional annual fee of $300,000 for the operation of internet gaming. The annual internet license fee may be waived for a casino licensee who opts to pay an annual plenary or conditional casino license fee of $2 million but may not waive payment of internet gambling revenue tax.”

The proposed amendment also provides that, “An internet gambling revenue tax of 5 percent of gross internet gambling revenue… shall be paid each month by the licensee granted an internet gaming operator license.”