PANAJI
Exactly a year after announcing plans to notify new Rules for casino operations, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant reiterated the assurance while presenting the Goa Budget 2023-24 in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.
In his speech under the Home Department category, Sawant stated that his “Government intends to notify new Rules for casino operation in the State under the Goa, Daman & Diu Public Gambling Act, 1976 to regulate the Casinos operating in the State.”
In March 2022, the Chief Minister assured to notify new rules to streamline and regulate casino operations. He had revealed that the draft Goa Public Gambling Rules, 2022, was being examined by the finance department.
Once the rules are enforced, the Gaming Commissioner will have the power to issue entry tickets to casinos, a role currently played by the operators themselves. The Rules will also give powers to the Gaming Commissioner to maintain a record of the number of visitors.
The State government, in March 2019, appointed the Commissioner of Commercial Taxes as the Gaming Commissioner. However, since the rules are not framed, the duties are still not defined although as per the draft, he is empowered to exercise overall control over the games held in designated areas, maintain records and documents in connection with the games, etc.
Complaints against any operators, which are currently handled by the Home Department, will be taken over by the Gaming Commissioner who will be armed with powers to take action.
