TITLE 10: LOCAL LAWS DIVISION 2: SECOND SENATORIAL DISTRICT (TINIAN, ETC.)
§ 25191. Declaration of Policy. The people of Tinian find and declare to be the public policy of the Second Senatorial District, the following: (a) The tourist, and resort industry of Tinian constitutes an essential component of its economic structure and, if properly developed, controlled and fostered, is capable of providing a substantial contribution to the general welfare, health and prosperity of Tinian, its inhabitants, and the people of the Commonwealth. (b) By reason of its location and prominence within the inhabited islands of the entire Commonwealth, Tinian is a valuable asset in the tourist and resort industry of the Northern Mariana Islands. (c) The fostering and encouragement of the tourism and entertainment industries will offer a unique opportunity for the inhabitants of Tinian and the entire Commonwealth to make maximum use of the resources for the expansion and encouragement of a hospitality industry. (d) Restricting the issuance of casino license to major hotel-casino complex is designed to assure that casinos licensed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter are always offered and maintained as an integral element of such hospitality facilities, rather than as the industry unto themselves that they have become in other jurisdictions. (e) An integral and essential element of the regulation and control of such casino facilities rests in the public confidence and trust in the credibility and integrity of the regulatory process and of casino operations. To further such public confidence and trust, the regulatory provisions of this chapter are designed to extend strict regulation to all persons, locations, practices and association, related to the operation of licensed casino enterprises and all related service industries as herein provided. In addition, comprehensive law enforcement supervision attendant thereto, is further designed to contribute to the public confidence and trust in the efficacy and integrity of the regulatory process. (f) Legalized casino gaming in Tinian can attain, maintain and retain integrity, public confidence and trust, and remain compatible with the general public interest only under such a system of control and regulation as insurer, so far as practicable, the exclusion from participation therein of persons with known criminal records, habits or associations, and the exclusion or removal from any positions of authority or responsibility within casino gaming operations and establishments of any persons known to be so deficient in business probity, ability or experience, either generally or with specific reference to gaming, as to create or enhance the dangers of unsound, unfair or illegal practices, methods and activities in the conduct of gaming or the carrying on of business and financial arrangements incident thereto. (g) Since the public has a vital interest in casino operation on Tinian sanctioned by passage of this chapter in conformity with the gambling provisions under the Commonwealth Constitution, participation in casino operations as a
TITLE 10: LOCAL LAWS DIVISION 2: SECOND SENATORIAL DISTRICT (TINIAN, ETC.)
licensee or registrant under this chapter shall be deemed a revocable privilege conditioned upon the proper and continued qualification of the individual licensee or registrant and upon the discharge of the affirmative responsibility of each such licensee or registrant to provide to the regulatory and investigatory authorities established by this chapter any assistance and information necessary to assure that the policies declared by this chapter are achieved. Consistent with this policy, it is the intent of this chapter to preclude the creation of any property right in any license, registration, certificate or reservation permitted by this chapter, the accrual of any value to the privilege or participation in gaming operation, or the transfer of any license, registration, certificate, or reservation, and to require that participation in gaming be solely conditioned upon the individual qualification of the person seeking such privilege. (h) Since casino operations are especially sensitive and in need of public control and supervision, and since it is vital, to the interests of the Municipality of Tinian to prevent entry, directly or indirectly, into such operations or the ancillary industries regulated by this chapter of persons who have pursued economic gains in an occupational manner or context which are in violation of the criminal or civil public policies, the regulatory and investigatory powers and duties shall be exercised to the fullest extent consistent with law to avoid entry of such persons into the casino operations or the ancillary industries regulated by this chapter. (i) Since the development of casino gaming operations on Tinian will substantially impact the physical environment of this island in the Commonwealth, and since it is necessary to insure that this substantial alteration be beneficial to the overall ecology of the island, regulatory and investigatory powers and duties conferred by this chapter shall include, in cooperation with other public agencies, the power and duty to monitor and regulate casinos and the growth of casino operations to respond to the needs of the community. (j) The facilities in which licensed casinos are to be located are of vital law enforcement and social interest to the Commonwealth, and it is in the public interest that the regulatory and investigatory powers and duties conferred by this chapter include the power and duty to review architectural and site plans to assure that the proposal is suitable by law enforcement, aesthetic and architectural standards. (k) Since the economic stability of casino operations is in the public interest and fair and competition in the casino operation of Tinian is important, the regulatory and investigatory powers and duties conferred by this chapter shall include the power and duty to regulate, control and prevent economic concentration in the casino operations and the ancillary industries regulated by this chapter, and to encourage and preserve competition. (l) It is in the public interest that the institution of licensed casino establishments be strictly regulated and controlled pursuant to the above findings and pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, which provisions are designed to engender and maintain public confidence and trust in the regulation of the
TITLE 10: LOCAL LAWS DIVISION 2: SECOND SENATORIAL DISTRICT (TINIAN, ETC.)
licensed enterprises, to provide a meaningful and permanent contribution to the economic viability of the resort and tourist industry of Tinian and the Commonwealth. (m) Continuity and stability in casino gaming operations cannot be achieved at the risk of permitting persons with unacceptable backgrounds and records of behavior to control casino gaming operations contrary to the vital law enforcement interests of Tinian and the Commonwealth. (n) The aims of continuity and stability of law enforcement officials will best be served by a system in which continuous casino operation can be assured under certain circumstances wherein there has been a transfer of property or another interest relating to an operating casino and the transferee has not been fully licensed or qualified, as long as control of the operation under such circumstances may be placed in the possession of person or persons in whom the public may feel a confidence and a trust. (o) A system whereby the suspension or revocation of casino operations under certain appropriate circumstances causes the imposition of conservatorship upon the suspended or revoked casino operation serves both the economic and law enforcement interests involved in casino gaming operations. Source: TLL 21-9, § 4 (§ 25191) (Mar. 30, 2020).