Gaming regulators in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) have approved four junket operator licenses, offering a credit lifeline to local casino operator Imperial Pacific International (IPI).

On Monday, the monthly meeting of the Commonwealth Casino Commission (CCC) resulted in the approval of two-year junket operator license applications filed by four operators: Jiming Dong’s High Tides (CNMI) LLC, Hongyi Ma’s Stellar Paradise CNMI LLC, Hong Zhang’s Bula Mula LLC and Ni ‘Lily’ Ren’s Hengqin Guiji LLC.

The Marianas Variety quoted top regulator Edward Deleon Guerrero saying the CCC had worked closely with IPI’s compliance VP Charles McDonald to establish the terms and conditions of each junket applicant’s license. IPI has yet to finalize individual agreements between the company and the successful applicants.

The CCC had previously only authorized one junket license, and that was over two years ago. It’s unclear why the 17 junket license applications the CCC claimed to have received by that point have gone unprocessed, although IPI’s approval was reportedly required for any application to proceed.