Imperial Pacific’s VIP gambling turnover hits record $5.6b

Saipan casino operator Imperial Pacific International Holdings vastly eclipsed its previous VIP gambling turnover record in the month of January.

In a filing with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on Thursday, Imperial Pacific announced that the 16 VIP gaming tables at its temporary casino Best Sunshine Live had generated turnover of $5.59b in January.

The astonishing sum represents a $1.6b improvement over Best Sunshine’s previous record of $3.95b set last September and nearly $4b more than the $1.7b the property generated in November. January’s total represents one-sixth of the total VIP turnover Best Sunshine reported through all of 2016.

While undeniably impressive, the number could prove problematic for Imperial Pacific, what with US financial watchdogs reportedly eyeing the volume of money flowing through the casino and local politicians publicly musing about how the government isn’t getting its fair share of Best Sunshine’s bounty. Then again, the strong showing could help the company find the financing it needs to complete its permanent Saipan property, which is supposed to open sometime this quarter.