Title 10, Local Laws

Detention of Persons by Casino Operator, etc., in Relation to Offenses Under 10 CMC § 25162 and 10 CMC § 25163. (a) Any of them: (1) a casino operator; (2) an employee or agent of a casino operator; or (3) an inspector, may in a casino detain in a suitable place therein any perso…

Detention, Arrest, etc., of Persons by Member of the Police Force in Relation to Offenses Under 10 CMC §§ 25162 and § 25163. Any member of the police force may in a casino detain in a suitable place therein for a reasonable time any person who has or who is suspected on reasonabl…

Offenses Relating to Revenue. Any person who willfully: (a) evades the payment of any fee, tax or levy payable by him under the provisions of this chapter; (b) furnishes to the Executive Director or an inspector any return in respect of any fee, tax or levy payable under the prov…

Offenses Relating to Unauthorized Games. A person shall not conduct in a casino any game unless the game is permitted to be conducted in a casino pursuant to 10 CMC § 2596. Source: TLL 21-9, § 4 (§ 25168) (Mar. 30, 2020).

Offenses Relating to Cheating by Casino Operator, etc. Any casino operator or employee or agent of a casino operator who in a casino conducts any game in such a manner as to win or attempt to win from any person to himself or any other person any money, chips or other valuable th…

Forgery and Like Offenses. A person who: (a) forges or counterfeits any chip purchase voucher, license, identification card or other form of identification authorized to be issued under this chapter; (b) knowingly utters any such chip purchase voucher, license identification card…

Bribery of Officers of the Commission. (a) Any officer of the Commission who corruptly asks for, receives or obtains or agrees to receive or obtain any money, property or benefit of any kind for himself or any other person: (1) to forego or neglect his duty or influence him in th…

Officers of the Commission Not to Gamble, etc. (a) A member or an officer of the Commission: (1) shall not gamble in a casino save to the extent that it may be necessary for him to do so in the course of his duties as an officer; (2) shall not knowingly have, directly or indirect…

Entry to Casino by Members of the Police Force. (a) Any member of the police force may, in the discharge of his duty, enter any area of a casino to which the public has access. (b) Any such area is a public place for the purpose of the exercise by a member of the police force of …

Effect of Casino License. (a) The operation of a casino pursuant to a casino license, in accordance with this chapter and any other applicable act and the agreement as referred to in 10 CMC § 2532 relating to the particular license does not, in itself, constitute a public or priv…

Protection of Officers, etc. (a) No liability shall be incurred by the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commission, the Commonwealth Department of Public Safety, any inspector or any other officer of the Tinian Casino Gaming Control Commission, the Enforcement Di…

General Civil Penalty. A person who contravenes or fails to comply with any provision of this chapter is guilty of an offense and, save where a specific civil penalty is otherwise provided, is liable, in case of a body corporate, to a civil penalty of up to $20,000 and, in the ca…

Proceedings for Offenses. A prosecution for an offense against this chapter may be commenced within one year from the time when the matter of complaint arose or within 6 months after the matter of complaint comes to the knowledge of the complainant, whichever is the period later …

Institution of Proceedings. (a) Without limiting the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, proceedings for an offense against 10 CMC § 25163 or § 25164 may be instituted by a member of the Attorney General’s Office. (b) Proceedings for an offense against this chapter may …

Attempt to Commit Offense. (a) A person shall not attempt to commit an offense against this chapter. (b) A person found in violation of the offense against this chapter is liable to the same penalty as an offender convicted of the offense itself unless he proves that he desisted …

Liability for Offense by Body Corporate. (a) Where a body corporate commits an offense against this chapter, each of the following persons shall be deemed to have committed the offense and, notwithstanding 6 CMC § 301 or any other rule of law or practice, to be responsible for th…

Service of Notices, Documents, etc. (a) Save where any other provision of this chapter otherwise provides, any direction, order, requisition or notice in writing or any other document or writing (hereinafter in this section referred to as a document) required or authorized by thi…

Evidentiary Provisions. In the proceedings under this chapter: (a) it shall not be necessary to prove the appointment of the Commission, the Executive Director, any inspector or any officer of the Tinian Casino Gaming Control Commission, the Commonwealth Director of Public Safety…

Regulations. (a) The Commission may make regulations, not inconsistent with this chapter, for or with respect to: (1) the types of work a casino key employee or casino employee may be licensed to perform and the compilation of a list or lists with respect thereto; (2) arrangement…

Violations; Civil Penalties. Violations of this chapter shall be prosecuted by the Executive Director or his designee before the Tinian Casino Gaming Control Commission or a hearing officer designated by said Commission. (a) For each violation of 10 CMC § 25141(c) the person foun…

Attorney Fees and Costs. Should it become necessary, in the opinion of the Commission, to enforce any provision of this chapter against any licensee, then the licensee shall pay all reasonable attorney fees and costs incurred by the Commission. Source: TLL 21-9, § 4 (§ 25185) (Ma…

Applicability of Chapter. This is a local law and it shall apply only in the Second Senatorial District (Tinian & Aguiguan). Source: TLL 21-9, § 4 (§ 25186) (Mar. 30, 2020).

Effective Date. This chapter shall take effect retroactive to April 18, 1993. Source: TLL 21-9, § 4 (§ 25187) (Mar. 30, 2020).

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, controlle…

Tinian Casino Gaming Control Commission. (a) There is hereby established a Tinian Casino Gaming Control Commission charged with the administration of this chapter. The Commission shall be composed of members to be appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Tinian M…

Good Repute of Persons Appointed as Inspectors. The Tinian Casino Gaming Control Commission shall, before appointing an inspector for the purposes of this chapter, or under this chapter, satisfy itself from due inquiry caused to be made in that regard that the person to be appoin…

Executive Director to Organize Work of Commission. The Executive Director shall be the chief administrative officer of the Commission and, subject to the direction of the Commission, shall organize the work of the Commission in a manner that will ensure its efficient and effectiv…

Deputy Director May Act During Absence, etc., of the Executive Director. In the event of the illness or absence of the Executive Director and until a new Executive Director is appointed, it is competent for the Deputy Director to exercise the powers and functions and perform the …

Illness or Absence of the Executive Director and Deputy Director. In the event of the illness or absence of both the Executive Director and Deputy Director, the exercise of the powers and function of the Executive Director or the performance of his duties by the person who for th…

Power of Delegation. (a) The Executive Director with the prior approval of the Commission may, either generally or otherwise as provided by the instrument of delegation, by instrument in writing under his hand, delegate: (1) to a particular person; or (2) to the holder of an offi…

Police Assistance. (a) Arrangements may be made between the Commission and the Department of Public Safety Tinian with respect to: (1) the rendering of assistance by the members of the police force; (2) the supply of information contained in the records of the Police Division; (3…

Secrecy. (a) Officers and employees of the Commission shall be bound to secrecy by affidavit or solemn declaration in the prescribed form. (b) An officer or an employee of the Commission so bound to secrecy shall preserve and assist in preserving secrecy with regard to all matter…

Identification of Inspectors, etc. (a) Every inspector shall be furnished with an identification card, signed by the Executive Director, identifying him as an inspector. (b) The Executive Director may cause any other officer or employee of the Commission to be furnished with an i…

Division of Enforcement. (a) There is hereby established a Division of Enforcement under the Commission, to be headed by the Executive Director which shall have the responsibility for enforcement of this chapter and for conducting investigations under this chapter. (b) Powers and…

Grant of Casino and Internet Gaming Licenses. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary: (a) the Commission may grant not more than five casino licenses for a period not to exceed forty (40) years which shall not be transferable, except as proscribed in this chapter, provided…

Agreement to Precede Grant of Casino License. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, no casino license shall be issued by the Tinian Casino Gaming Control Commission until and unless the Mayor of the Municipality of Tinian and Aguiguan certifies that the casino’…

Suitability of Casino Licensee and Other Persons. (a) Prior to an agreement being entered into, the Commission shall cause to be undertaken such investigations as are necessary to satisfy the Commission or shall require the casino licensee and all persons whether natural persons …

Hotel-Casino Complex Owner as Licensee. (a) The person to whom a plenary casino license is granted shall be the owner of the hotel-casino complex in question. (1) The person to whom an internet casino license is granted shall be the same owner of the hotel-casino complex of this …

Casino License. (a) A casino license shall be issued by the Commission under its approval and shall be in the prescribed form. (b) The license shall specify: (1) the date of its issue; (2) the name of the casino licensee; (3) the real property or other accurate description and th…

Duration of Casino License. A casino license remains in force until it is canceled, suspended, or surrendered pursuant to this chapter. Source: Tinian Local Initiative 1, § 47; amended by TLL 21-9, § 4 (§ 2536) (Mar. 30, 2020).

Lease of Hotel-Casino Complex or of Casino. (a) Subject to this chapter, a casino licensee may be subject to the prior approval of the Commission, when he leases to another person: (1) the hotel-casino complex; or (2) the casino. (b) An application to lease shall be made by the c…

Casino Management Agreement. (a) Subject to this chapter, a casino licensee or a lessee under a casino lease may, subject to the prior approval of the Commission, enter into a casino management agreement with another person for the management by that other person of: (1) the hote…

Suitability of Lessee Under a Casino Lease, Casino Operator Under a Casino Management Agreement and Other Person. (a) Prior to any approval by the Commission of a casino lease or a casino management agreement, the Executive Director shall cause to be undertaken such investigation…

Executive Director to Make Recommendation. The Executive Director, upon a consideration of the matters material to the application shall make a recommendation to the Commission with respect to: (a) the application by the casino licensee to lease to the proposed lessee the hotel-c…

Determination by the Commission Concerning Approval. (a) The Commission, upon a consideration of the recommendation of the Executive Director and such other matters with respect of the application as it thinks fit, may: (1) approve the application; (2) refuse the application; or …

Variation of Casino Lease or Casino Management Agreement. (a) If in any case the parties to a casino lease or casino management agreement desire to vary its provisions, they shall make application to the Executive Director setting out the variations proposed and such other partic…