When it comes to the off-shore casino industry, the tall pre election promises of the BJP have fallen flat on their face. Be it the banning the entry of Goans on these casino vessels or regulating the industry by introducing a Gaming Commission or shifting these vessels out of River Mandovi – all remain a distant dream, even 34 months after coming to power (March 9, 2012).
The implementation of some of these promises are so bad that even though a Bill was introduced on the floor of the House to regulate this industry in 2013.
The legislation, basically the amendment to the existing Goa Public Gambling (Prevention) Act was placed before the House in form of Bill but was neither passed nor has it been notified. According to the bill, the gaming commission would oversee the operations of casinos in Goa and ensure all conditions are complied with. The gaming commissioner has been given powers (in the bill) to impose fines and initiate prosecution in case of non-compliance of any rules. The bill also allows entry to casinos only for non-locals above 21 years who have obtained tourist permits from the Gaming Commissioner.
Apart from the manifesto promise, the first official announcement of the government came on the floor of the House in July 2012, when then Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said that he would set up a gaming commission along with drafting new legislation, to regulate it.
In May 2013, Parrikar assured that he would notify the said Bill, introduced in the Budget session, in the monsoon session in 2013.
He defended the delay in notifying saying that since the regulation of casino operation were complicated and a serious issue, a thorough study has to be made before notifying the Bill. In the very same year, Government came out with a shocker and reduced the entry fee of casinos to Rs 500 per person from Rs 1500 per head. The move was critised by the oppositions as well as social activists.
The Gambling Commission was expected to be fashioned on the lines of the Nevada Gaming Commission (which controls gambling in Las Vegas) and will regulate the casino industry, including the percentage the casinos make out of gamblers, besides ensuring a grievance redressal mechanism.
In January 2014, Government gave a firm deadline of February 28 to ban entry of Goans below age of 21 in the casinos and also to set up gaming commission. The notification is still awaited.
Within a six months in August, Government reiterated their promise to notify the rules and set up gaming commission.
The only two things that BJP government did for the casino industry, definitely in its favour, was reducing entry fee from Rs 2000 to Rs 500 per person and allowing transfer of casino licenses at fee of Rs 5 crore.
The BJP-led government has committed itself to framing a policy on casinos in Goa, which currently is the only state in India to permit live gambling. The state has four offshore casinos and nearly a dozen onshore casinos which operate from five-star resorts which dot the coastline.
Like any other promises, these promises too have remained on paper. The BJP, while in opposition, was against the casino lobby and had promised to do away with offshore gambling operations once in power. But now in power it faces accusations from the opposition and civil society groups of being close to the same lobby.
Only Games, no Gaming Commission
u In July 2012, ex-Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said that he would set up a Gaming Commission and also draft a new legislation to regulate it.
u In May 2013, Parrikar assured that he would notify the said Bill, introduced in the Budget session, in the monsoon session in 2013.
u Parrikar defended the delay in notifying. Said regulation of casino operations is complicated and a serious issue and needs a thorough study before notifying the Bill.
u Reduced entry fee to casinos from Rs 1500 per person to Rs 500, a move criticised by the oppositions as well as social activists.
u In January 2014, government sets February 28 to ban entry of Goans below age of 21 in casinos and also to set up gaming commission.
u In August 2014, government reiterates promise to notify rules and set up gaming commission.
The role of Gaming Commission
u The Gaming Commission would oversee operations of casinos in Goa and ensure all conditions are complied with. It was expected to regulate the casino industry, including the percentage the casinos make out of gamblers, besides ensuring a grievance redressal mechanism.
u The gaming commissioner would have powers to impose fines and initiate prosecution in case of non-compliance of rules. The bill allows entry to casinos only for non-locals above 21 years who have obtained tourist permits from the gaming commissioner.
