SAIPAN, Northern Mariana Islands — The beachfront casino built here by a Chinese mother-and-son duo a decade ago was billed as a $2 billion investment, a resort bigger than the Casino de Monte-Carlo in Monaco. The giant, gilded Imperial Palace would transform this tiny American island’s economy, the venture’s investors said.
Democracy Dies in Darkness
A tiny U.S. territory in the Pacific doubles down on a giant Chinese casino
Supporters of a casino project say it’s an economic lifeline for Saipan; detractors raise questions about money laundering and ties to Chinese criminals.
20 min
