Imperial Pacific gets conditional okay for permanent gaming ops

Saipan casino operator Imperial Pacific International Holdings (IPI) has finally received regulatory permission to launch gaming operations at its permanent casino, albeit subject to a few conditions.

On Wednesday, Commonwealth Casino Commission (CCC) exec director Edward Deleon Guerrero told the Marianas Variety that the CCC had granted IPI’s request to launch gaming operations at the new Imperial Pacific Resort (pictured), but only after the CCC receives certain assurances from IPI regarding the property and the people who work there.

The CCC’s main concerns involve the safety of the unfinished resort, including ensuring that the venue has a fully operational and certified fire alarm system. The work site endured a ‘trash fire’ in March after welding sparks ignited a pile of construction debris.

The CCC also wants assurances regarding strict adherence to federal safety requirements. A worker for an IPI contractor fell to his death in March, and this week saw the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) impose nearly $194k in penalties against three IPI contractors who were found to have subjected workers to unnecessary workplace hazards.