Northern Mariana Islands Face Fresh Casino Controversy amid Investor Lawsuit

The Tinian casino resort project’s future is becoming increasingly uncertain as developers face a high-profile legal challengeImage Source: Shutterstock.com

The Northern Mariana Islands’ longstanding struggles to develop a sustainable casino industry face a fresh setback, as Chinese investors filed a$13.4 millionlawsuit in New Yorkagainst the developers of a planned casino resort on Tinian. The suit, lodged in the New York State Supreme Courtin July, accuses key figures behind the project of fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, negligent misrepresentation, and other wrongdoings.

The Planned Resort Sought to Emulate the Titanic

The plaintiffs, members of the American Northern Marianas Economic Development Fund LLC, claim they were persuaded to invest nearly $12.1 million, plus hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees, under the promise of obtaining an EB-5 investor visaand a sngake in a sprawling luxury resort. Plaintiffs now contend that, ten years later, there is no casino, no hotel, no visas, and no clear plan for repayment.

Two notable individuals named in the lawsuit areXianjun Meng, the managing director of theAmerican Northern Marianas Regional Center(ANMRC) as well as CEO ofBridge Investment Group LLC, and his wife and business partner, Silvia Siu. The pair is also listed as principals of Canbo International Group, a Hong Kong-based consultancy that marketed the project to prospective investors.

This dispute centers around the planned Tinian Ocean View Resort and Casino, a 385,000-square-foot complex proposed in 2014 as aneconomic lifelineto reinvigorate Tinian Island’s struggling tourism sector. The project envisioned a spectacular cruise ship-inspired luxury hotel called the “Titanic Hotel,” a second mid-range hotel, high-end eateries, shops, spas, and even a ferry service to nearby islands.

Failed Casino Projects Are Becoming Increasingly Common

Developers allegedly told investors that their$500,000, plus administrative and legal fees, would be pooled to fund the resort’s development and create new jobs, meeting EB-5 immigration criteria. According to the lawsuit, promotional materials promisedfast visa processingand showed misleading images of construction progress. Plaintiffs also allege that the developers grossly overvalued the project, obtained no bank financing, and never offered the casino license as collateral.

The dispute reflects the ongoing struggles plaguing casino development in the Northern Mariana Islands. On the neighboring island of Saipan, theImperial Pacific International, once touted as the linchpin of the Commonwealth’s gaming industry, remains shrouded in controversy. The once glamorous property remains shuttered after years of litigation, labor disputes, unpaid taxes, and even FBI investigations for suspected financial crimes.

Tinian’s lawsuit is another reminder of the region’s checkered pastin casino ventures. Projects often begin withfanfare and promise, only to end mired in lawsuits, debt, and dashed hopes for economic revival. Regardless of whether investors manage to recoup some of their funds, Tinian’s tourism sector is unlikely to reap any long-lasting benefits.