Saipan casino open ‘1Q 2017’: Imperial Pacific

Jan 05, 2017 Newsdesk Latest News, Top of the deck, World  

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Hong Kong-listed gaming investor Imperial Pacific International Holdings Ltd has modified its language on the opening date for its permanent casino resort on the Pacific island of Saipan. The firm now says it plans to launch the property “in the first quarter of 2017”. In previous statements it said the venue was due to open “by 2017 Chinese New Year”, which falls on January 28.

The firm announced the first-quarter 2017 “soft opening” target in a Wednesday filing to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

“The construction of the group’s ‘Imperial Pacific Resort’ in Garapan, Saipan has been progressing smoothly, with over 2,000 workers working around-the-clock to ensure early completion,” Wednesday’s document added.

In August, the firm had stated: “The board aims to commence opening of the Imperial Pacific Resort by 2017 Chinese New Year with the opening of the hotel tower by the end of March 2017.”

Imperial Pacific has stated in previous filings that the casino at Imperial Pacific Resort would feature around “200 to 300 gaming tables” and “300 to 400 slot machines”. The 350-suite resort (pictured in an artist’s rendering) is being designed by architecture practice Steelman Partners LLP, which has been involved in the design of several large casinos in Asia and elsewhere.

Imperial Pacific has the right to an exclusive casino licence on the Pacific island of Saipan. The firm is currently operating a temporary casino – which opened in July 2015 – on Saipan, the main island of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. jurisdiction.

Imperial Pacific said on Monday that the temporary casino had generated 2016 unaudited VIP table games rolling chip turnover totalling nearly US$32.37 billion.

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