It is learnt that as the Grande Housie held at Verna appeared to be going from strength to strength, the police have imposed a blanket ban on housie in the Vasco police sub-division. It is learnt that the police officials have taken a stand that the Housie game comes under the Gambling Act and cannot be given the police nod. Housie is considered as an innocuous game, once a key ingredient of a family get-togethers and social functions. The game is played at musical evenings and Konkani tiatrs and other entertainment programmes held even during religious functions. The question that arises is whether there is a shift from entertainment to unchecked gambling as far as Housie is concerned. However, of late the substantial cash prize at stake has altered the game's character dramatically. Such high prize money could be a gateway for the youth to more serious types of gambling, including casino gambling. A blanket ban on the Housie game does not appear to be the way forward. What seems necessary is to keep a tag on the prize money at stake in this popular game.
