The Commonwealth Casino Commission had suspended Imperial Pacific International’s (IPI) casino license in April.
The license was suspended owing to pending a $15.5m annual licence fee, an annual $3.1m regulatory fee and a $20m contribution to the community This was due for two years and because of this the license got suspended.
However, now IPI has moved to Superior Court in Saipan requesting judicial review of the decision of casino lincense suspension as the operator believes that decision wasn’t fair.
It stated that during natural disaster, the requirement to pay annual fee is excused. Now, the ball lies with the court in determining whether the pandemic going on can be considered a natural disaster or force majeure.
As per Gambling Insider, the statement from IPI read: “The licensee has filed a review with Superior Court in Saipan to determine whether the pandemic constitutes a natural disaster or force majeure. If it is determined that the pandemic constitutes a natural disaster or force majeure, the licensee will not be required to pay the annual licence fee.”