The issue of online gambling took the Assembly by storm, with members of the Legislative Assembly seeking answers on the rising cases and the disastrous fallout on the Goan society. Quepem MLA Altone D'Costa and Opposition Leader Yuri Alemao mentioned the widespread network of online betting, estimated to be around 500 outlets spread across the State. There was a mention of a local committing suicide after losing significant sums on betting and another case of a person from Quepem losing Rs 40 lakh in a day. MLAs pointed out that massive transactions have been made on UPIs that are linked to operators.
Online betting has been a matter of concern because of its impact on lives. Gambling has driven some to bankruptcy, and online betting has only expedited that because, in this format, the activity is round-the-clock, unlike the 'matka', which has restrictions on time and payouts.
Legislators have stressed online betting dens sprouting at various quarters in the past few months. A mention was made in the House about one operating in Fatorda. The Opposition charged the police of being hand-in-glove with operators and agreed to furnish proof while daring the chief minister to suspend such erring police officers.
MLAs making a direct charge against police officers is something that the police leadership and the chief minister should be wary of. A police force that is compromised and a cyber cell that lacks the bandwidth make a perfect recipe for failure.
Online betting has grown exponentially, and operators have used various modes and VPNs to conceal IP addresses and bypass protocols. Undoubtedly, there are challenges before the cyber cell teams, but in an era of IT advancements, the State has to be ahead of the game if it seriously intends to take control. For now, enforcement largely relies on data supplied by informers and complainants.
Additionally, the role of police officers in this issue has become questionable. We recall the extortion expose this newspaper highlighted on February 23, where five policemen were caught on camera extorting money from a businessman in South Goa operating an online gaming company. Although the money was swiftly returned after the video went viral, and the police leadership immediately assured an inquiry, nothing much followed, and the men-in-khaki showed more eagerness to bury the hatchet. The need here is to probe the police connection to the online gaming industry; otherwise, any crackdown would be an exercise in futility.
Since Goa is a tourism destination with gambling on its menu, it must tread cautiously and clearly define its path, especially when registered online gambling sites operate nationally. The government has to take a call on whether it intends to block all such sites or only those operating illegally. While that is being done, it must also restrict entry to Goans in all casinos, not just off-shore ones and shut down the famous 'matka'. Gambling restrictions or ban has to be uniform because the more extensive debate is about the implications of gambling on Goa's society.
