Casino regulator nixes calls for 10% gaming tax in Saipan

Imposing an additional 10 percent tax on Saipan’s casino industry is not appropriate. At least, not right now.

Saipan lawmaker Edmund Villagomez recently tabled a proposal that seeks to add another 10 percent tax on casino gaming revenue on top of the business gross revenue tax, according to a Marianas Variety.

However, members of the Commonwealth Casino Commission turned down the measure on grounds that the island’s sole casino operator, Best Sunshine International, is already paying an exclusive license fee, gross gaming tax, as well as other regulatory fees.

Commission Executive Director Edward Deleon Guerrero told lawmakers Best Sunshine has paid the $1 million application fee; the three-year $15 million exclusive license fee totaling $45 million; the $3 million regulatory fee; the $4.4 million developers fee; some $1.7 million in excise taxes, and between $3 million to $4 million in business gross revenue tax (BGRT).