Team Herald
PORVORIM: The casino industry owes the State exchequer a sum of Rs 321 crore, the House was informed on Tuesday.
In a written reply submitted on the floor of the House, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that the total outstanding dues payable to the government amounts to Rs.321.66 crore.
Sawant said that with the casino industry being shut during the Covid-19 pandemic, the government decided to collect the annual recurring fees on a monthly pro-rata basis for the period from November 2020 to March 2021.
There are currently six offshore casinos operational in the State.
In case of a land-based casino with pan area up to 110 square metres – Rs 10 crore; casino with an area above 110 square metres but up to 330 square metres – Rs 20 crore; casino with an area above 330 square metres but up to 550 square metres – Rs 25 crore; casino with an area above 550 square metres but up to 825 square metres – Rs 32 crore; casino with an area above 825 square metres but up to 1,100 square metres – Rs 36 crore ; casino with an area above 1,100 square metres – Rs 40 crore.
For a casino license for an off-shore casino on board the vessel, of capacity up to 220 passengers – Rs 25 crore; a vessel that has total passenger capacity above 220 but up to passengers 440 – Rs 30 crore; vessel having total passenger capacity above 440 passengers- Rs 40 crore.
