• About Us
  • The Team
  • Advertise with Us

The latest news on the gaming industry in Asia

() () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () ()
  • Home
  • Macau
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • Japan
  • Rest of Asia
  • World
  • Industry Talk
  • Trends & Tech
  • iGaming
  • follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • RSS Feed
    • LinkedIn

Judge rules U.S. Treasury can regulate CNMI casinos: report

Jun 02, 2015 Newsdesk Latest News, Top of the deck, World  


Judge rules U.S. Treasury can regulate CNMI casinos: report

A judge in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) has ruled that the U.S. Department of the Treasury has the authority to regulate casinos on the Pacific archipelago, reports the Saipan Tribune newspaper.

Although CNMI is a U.S. territory with commonwealth status similar to that of Puerto Rico, the long reach of U.S. federal regulation does stretch there and covers issues such as anti-money laundering, said the newspaper. It quoted a ruling from Northern Mariana Islands Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona.

The U.S. government filed in November last year 158 criminal charges against Hong Kong Entertainment (Overseas) Investments Ltd, relating to a local gaming property called Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino. The charges included 155 counts of failure to file currency transaction reports (known as CTRs).

Hong Kong Entertainment had moved to dismiss the federal indictment on grounds that the company was not obligated to file CTRs because the U.S. Congress had not given the U.S. Treasury the authority to regulate casinos in the CNMI.

In denying Hong Kong Entertainment’s motion to dismiss, Judge Manglona pointed out that from its inception in 1970, the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act granted the Treasury Secretary authority to expand the term ‘United States’ to include “the possessions of the United States”.

In June 2014, George Que, a VIP services manager from the Tinian property was one of several managers that accepted a deal with the local U.S. District Court. Mr Que had been charged with a conspiracy to allow gamblers to conduct transactions involving more than US$10,000 without filing the required paperwork with the U.S. government, reported the Saipan Tribune at the time.

The indictment, which was first filed in May 2013, also charged a casino manager named Tim Blyth. Mr Blyth accepted a similar deal from an assistant U.S. attorney, whereby what is known as a deferred prosecution agreement was concluded.

Imperial Pacific International Holdings Ltd – a firm that started life as a frozen food business before acquiring the rights to a profit stream from a Macau junket investor – is planning a casino operation on the main CNMI island of Saipan.


  • tweet
Related articles
  • Court rejects Imperial Pacific appeal on licence suspension
    Court rejects Imperial Pacific appeal...

    Mar 17, 2022  

  • Imp Pacific told to sell gaming machines to settle debt
    Imp Pacific told to sell gaming...

    Jul 12, 2021  

More news
  • Coughlan to exit as Wynn Macau Ltd president in February
    Coughlan to exit as Wynn Macau Ltd...

    Jul 06, 2022  

  • Fitch downgrades Crown, signs off on rating casino firm
    Fitch downgrades Crown, signs off on...

    Jul 06, 2022  


Latest News

Coughlan to exit as Wynn Macau Ltd president in February

Coughlan to exit as Wynn Macau Ltd president in February

Jul 06, 2022  

Macau casino operator Wynn Macau Ltd said on Wednesday that its long-serving president, Ian Coughlan (pictured), would be leaving his role in February next year. Linda Chen will take over as...
Read More
Fitch downgrades Crown, signs off on rating casino firm

Fitch downgrades Crown, signs off on rating casino firm

Jul 06, 2022  

Macau could launch gaming tender within days: JP Morgan

Macau could launch gaming tender within days: JP Morgan

Jul 06, 2022  

Sign up to our FREE Newsletter

UB8V5.qr.16(Click here for more)

Pick of the Day

”As the Macau gaming revenue structure is now leaning heavily towards the mass business … once the border fully reopens, the recovery from mass should drive the sector to bounce more swiftly”

Vitaly Umansky, Louis Li and Shirley Yang

Analysts at Sanford C. Bernstein



Most Popular

  • Four Seasons Macao shops paused on Covid casesFour Seasons Macao shops paused on Covid cases July 4, 2022
  • GKL sees June casino sales up 34pct sequentiallyGKL sees June casino sales up 34pct sequentially July 4, 2022
  • Macau’s Grand Lisboa cordoned amid 13-case Covid clusterMacau’s Grand Lisboa cordoned amid 13-case Covid… July 5, 2022
  • Macau publishes amendment to public tender regulationMacau publishes amendment to public tender regulation July 5, 2022
  • Macau ops all likely had negative 2Q EBITDA: JP MorganMacau ops all likely had negative 2Q EBITDA: JP Morgan July 4, 2022
Copyright 2014-2022 TEAM Publishing and Consultancy Ltd / All rights reserved
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us