Goa government nod for 9th onshore casino

PANAJI: The state government has granted permission to open a casino in a starred hotel at Kadamba plateau. Home department sources said that it would be the ninth onshore casino in the state.
Chief minister Pramod Sawant cleared the file to start the 29-table 100-capacity gaming club. It will have 17 electronic card games, four roulettes, five slot machines and a money wheel. The total occupied area is below 300 sqm.
The government had earlier granted 11 licences to onshore casinos out of which three shut after the government hiked various licence fees in March 2018.
Out of the nine casinos, eight are being operated in North Goa. While the state government has capped the number for offshore casinos, there is no such restriction on granting licence to onshore casinos so long as they meet the government criteria.
From February 1, Goans have been banned from entering gambling areas in casinos, except those working on them.
The state government had appointed gaming commissioner to monitor the operations of casinos and to check if Goans are going to the gaming facility.
The state government has yet to come out with the rules for the functioning of gaming commissioner. Sources said that the gaming commissioner rules files have been sent to law department for vetting before it is notified.
In June 2015, the home department had first drafted the rules in which there was a provision to arrest any person under 21 entering casinos.
It was in June 2012 that the state government passed the amendment to the Goa Public Gaming Act, 1976 by introducing the Goa Public Gaming (Amendment) Bill, 2012.