Saipan’s gaming regulator has seen its workforce cut by more than half as a result of the lengthy closure of Imperial Pacific International’s casino and recent suspension of its gaming license.
According to local media reports, the Commonwealth Casino Commission (CCC) issued 60-day termination notices without cause to 22 employees this week as a result of budget constraints, while a number of other staff have found alternative employment due to uncertainty surrounding their roles moving forward.
In total, the CCC’s workforce has been slashed by 60% with only those considered critical to addressing current needs retained.
The terminations come as the casino at IPI’s Imperial Palace‧Saipan moves into a 16th month of closure since first suspending operations on 17 March 2020 due to COVID-19.
The company has since had its casino license suspended for failure to comply with multiple requirements under its casino license and has been given six months to repay its US$15.5 million casino license fee and US$3.1 million regulatory fee, as well as a US$6.6 million fine, or risk having its license revoked.
IPI is currently seeking a judicial review into the suspension of its license.
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