Rota delegation approves $305,000 bill for casino commission after cutting travel funds and adding reporting requirements

The Rota Legislative Delegation on Nov. 13 passed House Local Bill 24-27, a $305,000 appropriation intended to fund ongoing operations and oversight of the Rota Casino Gaming Commission (RCGC), after debate over training and travel costs and a unanimous vote to amend the bill.

The delegation moved the bill into a committee-of-the-whole for members to question commissioners about the request and then returned to adopt an amendment that reduced the operations line, restricted travel spending, and reserved part of the fee revenue for future appropriation. Senator Paul offered the amendment, which the clerk recorded as passing unanimously; the final, amended bill then passed 4-0.

Why it matters: the funding comes from license fees and gaming revenues that the commission and the delegation both say must be managed to sustain oversight across multi-year licenses. Members pressed commissioners for a clearer breakdown of immediate training needs, past balances and how license fees will support both online and land-based regulation.

Commissioners asked for the appropriation to cover training scheduled in December and other start-up needs. “I humbly seek the support of our delegation to give them what they’re asking,” said Abby Hockle, who spoke for ROTA municipal officials asking the delegation to consider $140,000 toward training and operations. Commissioners told the delegation they face an urgent need to train staff on online and land-based regulation because two online applicants have already been issued conditional licenses.

Delegation members questioned the size and timing of the travel component. Members cited the published fee structure — a $5,000 annual online license fee plus a $1,000 application fee — and asked how modest license revenue could justify a large travel and training allocation. Senator Paul flagged the risk of spending license revenues quickly: “We must ensure every dollar is used effectively,” he said, urging cost-effective remote alternatives and asking for a full budget and the event itinerary before approving travel funding.

Commissioners replied that the $75,000 training figure covers an online module and a land-based regulatory lab (the commission identified training in the Philippines as well as online components), attendance by five commissioners, and compliance topics including anti–money‑laundering and the federal Wire Act. Commissioners also said some earlier appropriated funds were used for ethics training and other compliance-related activities.

Members raised prior appropriations and balances. The clerk and commissioners reported a prior appropriation of $155,000 from a previous license fee; the fourth‑quarter report showed roughly $30,000–$32,000 remaining in commission accounts, of which commissioners indicated about $7,000 remained earmarked for training and $17,000 for operations/equipment. Members asked for updated, itemized quarterly reporting going forward.

Amendments and outcomes: Senator Paul’s amendment reallocated the bill’s funds — reducing the operations line to a lower figure, earmarking $45,500 for payment of past commissioners’ salaries to be divided equally among specified past members, and reserving approximately $200,000 for future appropriation or allotment by the delegation. The amendment also changed reporting from monthly to quarterly and incorporated existing statutory reporting language from Public Law 24‑02. The clerk recorded a 4‑0 vote in favor of the amendment; the final bill as amended also passed 4‑0.

Next steps and follow-up: Members asked the chairman to schedule a Teams (Zoom) meeting with RCGC within a week for a detailed budget and training itinerary. The chair also said he would convene a municipal leadership meeting (including the mayor, municipal council, DPW, Commonwealth Ports Authority and Department of Public Lands) to address related infrastructure and service concerns tied to gaming revenues.

What the bill does not change: the delegation’s action does not itself authorize travel beyond what the amended appropriation permits; members required a separate, detailed justification for travel spending, and asked the commission to provide clear quarterly financial reporting and a specific training plan before additional funds are released.

Votes at a glance: the amendment to H.L.B. 24‑27 passed 4–0; the final passage of H.L.B. 24‑27 as amended passed 4–0.

The delegation adjourned at 6:17 p.m. with the chair promising to circulate follow-up invitations and reports to members.