A bill that would have delayed the time by which some poker arcades had to be moved in the Northern Marianas has been defeated.
The measure had sought to extend by two years the period to allow poker arcades to operate in non-conforming areas or in villages on the main island, Saipan.
The bill's defeat means arcades would have to move to special designated areas by October.
The rationale behind the mandated relocation is to make arcades inaccessible to the local population, as gambling addiction had become a growing problem.
Out of more than 50 parlours on Saipan, 25 are in non-conforming areas.