TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Corporation of City of Panaji (CCP) Mayor Surendra Furtado pushed for a gaming commission in the State, even as he said that Casinos in Goa are an evolving industry that had grown multifold since their inception.
In a communiqué issued to the media Saturday he said it was understood that the gaming establishments contribute to the growth of tourism in the State. “Assessing the recent developments and incidents (including death of a youngster after falling from an off-shore casino in the Mandovi) it is important that a Gaming Commission is set up immediately to mange and regulate the gambling industry in Goa.
Furtado said that the State Secretariat officials have been quoted saying that the Commission would be set up on the lines of the Nevada Gaming Commission that regulates gambling in the world’s casino capital Las Vegas.
“This is making the situation over simplistic. Las Vegas is a targeted casino city the economy of the city is based on casinos and gambling activities. The name Las Vegas is associated just with gambling and people visit Las Vegas only to gamble,” he argued.
The Mayor asserted that Goa certainly doesn’t need to build and imagine like that, as there are very many other things that the smallest state in the country can boast of ~ our rich heritage and culture amongst other things. Goa needs a unique set up where the burgeoning gaming market can be regulated while providing a fair gaming policy for the customers, the establishments and other people directly and/or indirectly connected with the industry.
Speaking on the need for CCP’s involvement in the Commission, Furtado said that casinos contribute over Rs 150 crore (Fiscal Year 12-13) annually to the exchequer in revenues, but they also contribute to excessive and unmanaged traffic, sewerage and garbage management systems that are not in place amongst other anomalies that create hazards for the residents of Panjim.
“A form of settlement needs to come in with limited options if the casinos were to remain within the jurisdiction of Panjim city.”
“Engagement of the Gaming Commission and CCP as the Civic Establishment are of much importance,” he said adding that one of the oldest gaming boards in the world such as the British Gaming Commission has the Local Authority Liaison Unit which works with all the Borough Councils in and around Metropolitan area of London. The Local Authority Liaison unit closely works with the civic bodies in all aspects of the functioning of the Gaming Commission including granting of licences.
According to Furtado, the Gaming Commission in association with the CCP would have the primary activities but not limited to ~ Keeping illegal activities out of the gaming industry; ensuring that Gaming is conducted fairly and in a transparent manner; providing a safe environment for gaming and promoting gaming awareness and protecting children and the most vulnerable from adverse effects of gambling.
