PANAJI
A decade after promising to keep underage youth out of Goa's casinos, the State government finally notified rules prohibiting the entry of anyone below 21 years into casino gambling areas, while also tightening financial provisions by imposing an 18 per cent annual penal interest on delayed licence fee payments.
"No person below the age of twenty-one years shall be allowed entry by the licensee at designated licensed places/areas where a licensee installs and operates games of electronic amusements/slot machines or table games in a five-star hotel or vessel,” the Home Department notification states.
As per the rules now, persons below 21 are allowed to enter the vessel except the gaming zone.
The notification gives legal effect to a long-pending commitment first made by the BJP government after it came to power in 2012. Then chief minister Manohar Parrikar had assured that rules would be framed to prevent youth from entering casinos, amid mounting public concern over the social impact of gambling.
Four years later, in 2016, then CM Laxmikant Parsekar informed the Goa Legislative Assembly that the government was drafting rules to prohibit entry of persons below 21 years into casinos. The notification has now come nearly 10 years after that assurance.
The delay comes against the backdrop of sustained criticism from sections of civil society and social organisations, which have argued that casinos were exposing young people to gambling and fostering addiction.
In a separate amendment notified simultaneously, the government has introduced a stringent penalty for casino operators who delay payment of Annual Recurring Fees (ARF).
"For any delayed payment of Annual Recurring Fee by the licensee, the licensee shall be liable to pay penal interest at the rate of 18 per cent per annum on the outstanding amount," the notification states.
The move assumes significance as several casino operators continue to owe substantial dues to the State.
Earlier this year, The Goan reported that eight onshore and offshore casinos had collectively defaulted on payments exceeding Rs 314.56 crore, with some dues dating back to 2018. Of these, three non-operational casinos and five operational casinos were listed as defaulters, while the licences of two operational casinos had been suspended due to pending payments.
The defaulters include M/s La Calypso Hotels Pvt Ltd, M/s Trade Wings Hotels Ltd, M/s MKM Grand Gaming & Entertainment, M/s Britto Amusements Private Limited, M/s Raffles Square Development Pvt. Ltd, Big B Leisure LLP, M/s Machos Entertainment Pvt. Ltd and M/s Golden Globe Hotels Pvt. Ltd.
M/s La Calypso Hotels Pvt Ltd remained the biggest defaulter with outstanding dues exceeding Rs 107.11 crore, with the matter pending before the Administrative Tribunal. M/s MKM Grand Gaming & Entertainment owed more than Rs 80 crore, with the dispute before the Supreme Court.
The government initiated recovery proceedings for Rs 82.70 crore against M/s Trade Wings Hotels Ltd. It had also issued demand notices to M/s Britto Amusements Private Limited and M/s Raffles Square Development Pvt. Ltd to recover ARF dues relating to the Covid-19 period.
