Attempts to have a referendum in the Northern Marianas to halt a planned casino project on Saipan have failed.
Those opposed to the casino wanted a vote on the day of the general election in November but failed to get 20 percent of CNMI registered voters to sign up.
This comes at the same time as the Lottery Commission has approved a minimum two-billion US dollar casino development agreement that will become final once the parent company of Best Sunshine International Limited accepts it.