Imperial Pacific gets nod to open temporary casino in Saipan; Bangkok casino could become police station?

Imperial Pacific gets nod to open temporary casino in Saipan; Bangkok casino could become police station?

Macau junket investor Imperial Pacific International Holdings Ltd has reached a written agreement with the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, amending its casino license to establish and operate a temporary casino in Garapan, Saipan.

Imperial Pacific gets nod to open temporary casino in Saipan; Bangkok casino could become police station? The agreement was mentioned in a filing submitted to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, as well as the company’s plan to seek legal advice to make sure that the temporary casino complies with all the applicable HKSE listing rules.

The temporary casino – which expects to launch later this year – will be operational while the company builds its $7.1 billion integrated resort and casino project in Saipan. The first phase of the massive project is set to be completed sometime in 2016.

Once completed, the project will feature a town hotel plus integrated resort with gaming facilities.

Over in Bangkok, the Tao Pun casino—long considered as a hotbed for illegal gambling among local residents–will be turned into, of all things, a police station.

Pol Col and Secretary-General of the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) Seehanat Prayoonrat told The Bangkok Post that gamblers had continued to use the premises for illegal gambling activities even after the casino had been seized by the AMLO.

The plan to turn it into a police substation followed a recent raid undertaken by a joint force of local police and military personnel.