No sign of gaming policy for state’s casino industry

Panaji: Although it is almost certain that casinos in the state will reopen for business in a month or so, the government has still not been able to come out with a conclusive gaming policy for regulation of the industry.

Enquiries with a senior government source on Tuesday revealed that even though the policy has been drafted, it needs concurrence of the state’s law department to be legally correct. “Thereafter, the draft will require approval from the state assembly before being placed in public domain for suggestions,” said the senior official. He indicated that the approval from the state’s law department may take time.

The proposed gaming policy is likely to be a bulky document that will consolidate the various notifications issued by the state government on casino operations from time to time. It will define the role of the gaming commissioner in regulating the industry by way of powers to search vessels, issue visitor passes, take inventory of the rooms etc.

The gaming policy will also enable the government to strictly implement the Goa Gambling Act and levy higher fines for violations.

On February 1, 2020, the government notified the commissioner of state taxes as the gaming commissioner. However, since then, the government has been taking its time to finalise the gaming policy despite having a window period of several months due to the closure of the industry.

Offshore and land-based casinos in the state are shut since May 2021 because of COVID-19 second wave restrictions. It is the second long closure for the industry after remaining shut for nearly eight months from March to November 2020 on account of the pandemic’s first wave.

Several local industry bodies are supporting the reopening of offshore casinos due to their ability to attract tourists to the state.

The Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) said it is in favour of allowing casino operations, as it wants the revival of the local tourism industry. The Hotels and Restaurants Association of Goa is also pushing for reopening of the casinos to improve room occupancy of city hotels.

In 2019-20, the state earned revenue of Rs 212.6 crore from the six floating casinos. However, revenue from the offshore casinos fell sharply to Rs 63.3 crore (up to February 28, 2021) because of the pandemic. The industry comprises six floating and nine shore casinos located in hotels.

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