A junket operator formerly licensed to run VIP gaming services in the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) is suing Saipan casino operator Imperial Pacific International for its failure to return funds previously deposited in the casino cage.
According to a report by Marianas Variety, BigBang Entertainment LLC – which was licensed to provide junket operations from August 2019 to August 2021 – is seeking damages of at least US$352,000 from IPI after filing its lawsuit filed with the local court on 31 March. The suit, which was moved to the District Court on 1 May, alleges breach of contract, sum certain, conversion by demand and refusal, non-gratuitous bailment, negligent breach of fiduciary duty, intentional breach of fiduciary duty, and unjust enrichment, the report says.
It is alleged that BigBang and IPI entered into a junket agreement in September 2016 under which the junket would market IPI’s casino – Imperial Palace • Saipan – and introduce VIP customers.
BigBang then proceeded to deposit front money into the casino cage at various times, with the cage said to have been holding almost US$352,000 from BigBang’s deposits as of early 2020.
However, IPI’s casino was ordered closed on 16 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic with BigBang subsequently requesting a refund of the full US$352,000 amount being held by IPI.
According to BigBang’s lawsuit, IPI never responded to any of the junket’s requests and never returned the money.
BigBang isn’t the only company seeking payment from IPI, with Saipan’s Commonwealth Casino Commission (CCC) revealing last year it is seeking more than US$25 million in back payments following the 2021 suspension of IPI’s casino license.
Excluding various lawsuits filed by former contractors, IPI’s obligations are said to exceed US$100 million, having failed to pay annual regulatory and license fees in each of the past three years.
Despite this, and moves by the CCC to have the operator’s license revoked, IPI said in March that it still hopes to reopen the casino and is on the lookout for potential investors.
