PANAJI
The popular game of Housie is undergoing a significant tweak in South Goa as organizers scramble to evade increasing scrutiny and legal repercussions.
Following a crackdown by the South Goa police in response to concerns over large cash payouts, several villages in the Salcete have decided to adopt a novel approach ” announcing prizes in points rather than cash.
An event labelled as Konkani Musical Evening in Mungul, Margao, have advertised winnings of 9,99,000 points, shifting from cash announcements while still maintaining the familiar game format of Jaldie-5, Jaldie-6, and Horizontal Line.
Similarly, a Konkani Musical Show in Seraulim offers an enticing prize of 9,99,999 points, with tickets costing Rs 1,000 for three, but notably omitting any reference to cash.
This strategic change comes after directives from South Goa District Collector Egna Cleetus, who has intensified efforts to monitor and regulate illegal gambling activities, particularly regarding ‘dubious’ Housie games.
Authorities have been instructed to collaborate with the police to conduct inspections, raids, and seizures to combat unauthorized events that offer huge cash prizes.
While police have been on the job with a recent raid at a Housie event organised openly at Varca, the going has not been too easy for the men-in-khaki.
Superintendent of Police (South Goa) Tikam Singh Verma, IPS, said as soon as they get information that any programme with Housie is taking place police teams go to the venue and physically stop it.
"If there is any evidence at the site we register an FIR and investigate," Singh said when asked how the police will navigate this trickery of organisers advertising their events without mentioning the rupee value of prizes but simply mentioning 'points'.
With the police and local authorities tightening their grip on illegal gambling, the move to disguise cash winnings as points reflects a desperate effort by organizers to skirt legal consequences.
The future of Housie in Goa now hangs in balance as enforcement measures intensify, raising important questions about the sustainability of these games and the broader implications on the society at large.
