While the move could draw international high-rollers to these shores, locals won’t get a chance to try their hands at leisure games
Chennai:
Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy is on a mission. His dream to aggressively promote tourism has taken shape with south’s first onshore casino coming up off the backwaters of the union territory.
Confirming this to DT Next, he said the decision to have an onshore model comes on the back of easy clearance by the state as opposed to an offshore casino that requires the Centre’s nod.
The latest development comes after a three-year hiatus, when the CM expressed his desire to bring a casino to the Union Territory. He was keen to replicate the Goa model to promote tourism that included setting up theme parks, water sports and building an offshore casino. The project, which was kept under wraps, envisages an investment of Rs 300 crore and includes a five-star hotel, a source privy to the development, told DT Next.
However, the change to onshore casino is to avoid a possible stand-off with the Centre, given that gambling (a state subject) has invited the wrath of activists and politicos alike, whenever the subject is broached. Even the online gaming ecosystem is in its infancy in India. “The policy has been formulated and we will have mini theatres and malls alongside to boost tourism. Also, the casino will be open only to foreigners in possession of a passport and not the locals,” Narayanasamy said.
The attempt to reposition Puducherry’s touristy image - from a cultural and spiritual hub to a hotspot for high rollers has the local administration close to formally announcing a casino, that would give a leg up to visitors to this part of the country. A promenade on the beach, a walkway, boat rides through mangroves are some of the eco-tourism initiatives that the territorial administration has proposed.
Narayanasamy also said the need for providing entertainment led to the casino being finalised off the backwaters dotted with star hotels. The proposal had got cleared by the cabinet, he added.
Until recently, the Pondicherry Gaming Act, 1965, expressly prohibited gambling activities of any kind. It is also learnt that an international gaming expert is part of the blueprint coming alive so that planning the necessary casino infrastructure is easy.
Several countries have shown an interest in setting up a casino in this union territory, which upon the roll-out of the first gambling license would make Puducherry the only southern region to boast of a casino. Goa, Daman and Diu, and Sikkim are currently the only locations, where gambling and casino operations are legalised. Goa has six offshore casinos and eight onshore casinos, which are restricted to resorts and are part of five and seven-star hotels. In July, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had said, “The government has decided to remove casinos out of the Mandovi river, but no alternate feasible site had been finalised.”
Sawant had said the government was also considering amending rules under the Goa, Daman and Diu Public Gambling Act, 1976. “Once the rules are finalised, the same would be notified,” he said.