MARGAO
Has the ‘Housie’ come of age in Goa, after entertaining people at family get-togethers, social functions, sporting events et al, wherein citizens used to grab a coupon or two with a marker as a past time? Or, is the once common man’s housie taking the shape of gambling with organisers offering prize money running into lakhs of rupees?
Even as these and other questions have become a subject matter of debate, there seemed no end to the rush of housie games, with prize money only going up by the day if one goes by the advertisements doing rounds on the social media platforms.
Consider this. A glance at the housie games lining up during the next 10 days shows that the organisers are offering prize money in lakhs. In fact, a housie organised at a musical evening later this week is offering total prize amount of almost 14 lakh, including Rs 8 lakh for the full house.
Similarly, musical evenings scheduled in Salcete and outside are offering attractive housie prize money, again running into lakhs of rupees. One has to try their luck by buying three housie coupons for Rs 1000, with the organisers coming out with the set of norms to regulate the game.
Sources in the know say that playing housie at football finals has been an exception than a norm in the recent past. What, however, has changed in the last few days or months is the prize money offered by the organizers. “We had never heard of organisers offering housie prize money running into lakhs of rupees. But, trend seemed slowly changing. We do not know what lies in store for the game of housie in the future”, remarked an elderly citizen.
Sources pointed out that bare economics ensures huge money up for grabs both for the organisers as well as the players. “Just imagine a situation if 2000 players play after buying three coupons @ Rs 1000, the turnover sounds mindboggling. The revenue not only easily covers the prize money but leaves substantial margin for the organisers”, sources said.
So far, officials, including law enforcing agencies have not intervened, with housie continuing to reign supreme in the countryside.
