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IPI “Open to Idea” of Issuing License to Another Casino Operator
Imperial Pacific International is “open to the idea” of another casino operator on Saipan, IPI’s Acting Chief Executive Officer Tao Xing told the Commonwealth Casino Commission during a meeting Thursday.
It was Commissioner Mario Taitano who raised the matter, noting that Xing earlier said he was “okay” with a proposed amendment to the casino law that would end the exclusivity of the license issued to IPI.
“Are you working with the legislature or lobbying with them to do that?” Taitano asked.
Xing said since there was no attorney with him, he could not say much about it. But he added that removing the exclusivity of the casino license is part of the negotiation between IPI and the CNMI government. “We are open to that idea,” Xing said.
Minority bloc Sens. Paul A. Manglona and Edith Deleon Guerrero have introduced Senate Bill 22-23 which would authorise the Commonwealth Lottery Commission to issue a second casino license. The measure has been referred to the Senate Committee in Fiscal Affairs chaired by Sen. Victor Hocog.
In a letter to Senate Floor Leader Vinnie F. Sablan two weeks ago, Manglona and Deleon Guerrero noted that the Fiscal Affairs Committee was still sitting on the bill.
They cited Senate Rule 7, Section 8 (c) which states that a committee “shall report to the Senate all actions taken on any matter referred to it. The report is due within 60 days from the referral date and within 90 days from the referral date for legislative initiatives and referenda.
Manglona and Deleon Guerrero also included in their letter the concerns raised by former IPI CEO Ray Yumul about IPI’s mounting liabilities to the CNMI and federal governments.
“It has been identified for fiscal year 2023 [that] the 25% for the retirees’ pension will be entirely dependent on the casino’s gross revenue tax. This raises grave concern since IPI shut down its casino on March 17, 2020 as a result of the global pandemic caused by the Covid-19 virus,” the two senators said.
Manglona and Deleon Guerrero said the Fiscal Affairs Committee has also not acted on Senate Resolution 22-1 which requests Gov. Ralph DLG Torres to instruct the Development Plan Advisory Committee representative to immediately provide a report to the legislature on casino projects.
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Eagerly anticipated release now confirmed following a highly successful exclusivity period with Rush Street Interactive
Play’n GO has today announced the official US release of its hit title Colt Lightning Firestorm, following a three-week period of exclusivity with Rush Street Interactive brands BetRivers and SugarHouse.
Colt Lightning Firestorm was released in Europe and other jurisdictions in May 2024, and its release in the US comes with much fanfare following the game’s rave reviews in its short exclusivity period. The game is a sequel to the wildly popular Colt Lightning game which was released early last year, and indications at this stage suggest that this sequel may prove even more successful.
This announcement sees Colt Lightning Firestorm available to players in each state and operator with whom Play’n GO is licensed. Play’n GO first entered the online casino market in the US in 2022, and has reiterated its commitment to becoming active in every regulated market around the world.
Magnus Olsson, Chief Commercial Officer at Play’n GO said: “We’re excited to unveil Colt Lightning Firestorm to the wider online casino gaming community in the US, and have been very pleased to see its strong performance during its exclusivity period with Rush Street Interactive. We had high hopes for the game following the success of its predecessor, and we’re confident that these robust results will continue now that the game is available to an even bigger audience.”
Esports entertainment company BLAST has announced plans to host two popular esports events in Singapore in 2024 and 2025.
BLAST will bring both world-class Counter-Strike and Dota 2 tournaments to the heart of Southeast Asia, marking a major step in Singapore’s emergence as an esports and gaming hub. Supported by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), these high-profile events will bring the world’s best esports teams and players from all across the world to compete in Singapore.
BLAST has teamed up with AEG Presents Asia, one of the world’s largest live entertainment entities to bring these events to Singapore. The partnership forms part of BLAST’s ambition to create the best esports experiences by working closely with premier destinations and the biggest and best live entertainment partners.
More than half of global esports views (57%) are estimated to come from the Asia Pacific region, 47% more than any other region in the world with the global market valued at $1.6 billion.
By bringing the top-tier Counter-Strike and Dota 2 tournaments to Singapore, BLAST aims
to attract global esports talent, foster local growth, and elevate Singapore’s status as a destination for world-class esports entertainment.
James Woollard, Director of Market Development at BLAST, said: “We are incredibly excited to bring two of the biggest esports titles to this vibrant destination. Over the coming 18 months, Singapore will become a major hub for esports in Southeast Asia, and with the support of the Singapore Tourism Board, we look forward to delivering unforgettable experiences for fans while helping to build a thriving esports ecosystem in the region. Bringing the first BLAST arena event to Singapore is an exciting first step in this journey. The World Final will see the world’s best Counter-Strike players and teams fighting for a $1,000,000 total prize pool.”
Ms Ong Ling Lee, Executive Director, Sports and Wellness, Singapore Tourism Board, said, “We are excited to host the BLAST Premier World Final and the BLAST Dota Slam in Singapore. The Counter-Strike event marks the first BLAST-branded event in Southeast Asia and the inaugural Counter-Strike tournament series in the region, solidifying Singapore’s position as a world-class esports destination. We are confident that the international participants and their legions of fans will have a memorable experience in Singapore, immersing themselves in the diverse and dynamic offerings of our city.”
The World Final 2024 will take place from 30th October – 3rd November and will be the first BLAST event to take place in Singapore, followed by the BLAST Dota Slam in 2025. The World Final will be the biggest Counter-Strike event to take place in Singapore, where the world’s best eight Counter-Strike teams will compete for a massive prize pool of $1,000,000 and the chance to claim bragging rights as the best team around.
Qualified World Final teams: NAVI, Team Spirit, Team Vitality, FaZe Clan and G2 Esports.
Fans can sign-up for the pre-sale window by registering with BLAST.tv, where they will also receive updates and information on tickets.
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