Reckoning that the youth getting hooked to online gambling is a serious issue, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant reportedly assured the state legislative assembly that the government will crackdown on the same. Ironically on the same day of the proceedings of the state legislative assembly an MLA from the ruling party has reportedly reiterated his support for legalization of ‘matka’ gambling claiming that it will positively impact Goa’s GST collection and offer legitimate job opportunities to those presently involved in illegal gambling activities. Matka gambling is an activity in which mostly those belonging to the low income group engage.While the gambling ensures quick money for the lucky ones, many could be spending a good part of their monthly income in this illegal activity. Legalizing matka could spell the death-knell of this popular form of gambling as GST collection will eat into the prize money.
Online gambling appears to have emerged as the latest illegal avenue to gamblers keen on trying their luck with numbers, considering the series of raids conducted by police agencies on such underground operations. Matka gambling, which is a popular gambling activity in Goa, operates from small kiosks and now digitally as well. While matka bookies operate on a shoe-string budget, wielding only a pen, matka receipt book, a sheet of carbon paper and a small place to set up shop, an online gambling operation needs more investment. The operators have to purchase some apps for gaming and invest in some computers. While matka betting payouts occur twice a day, online gambling sprees can run all day long as long as one has the money to shell out. Gambling can become an addiction, just like drugs or alcohol, if you use it compulsively or feel out of control. Compulsive gambling can have profound and long-lasting consequences for your life, such as relationship problems, financial problems, including bankruptcy, legal problems, poor work performance or job loss, poor general health, suicide, suicide attempts or suicidal thoughts.
