The Goa Public Gambling Act, 1976, which is meant to prevent any kind of gambling, was amended four times- 1992, 1996, 2001 and 2012 – to allow ‘high class gambling’ and to ‘allow only tourists to enter the casino’ (banning of Goans is something that never happened). The intelligent bureaucracy and greedy politicians have travelled through it systematically, allowing and promoting the off-shore casino gaming in the State.
In 1992, then chief minister Ravi Naik inserted a fresh section 13 (A) in the act, authorizing “any game of electronic amusement/slot machines in five star hotels, subject to such conditions”. The Amendment 13A of just five lines plunged us unwary Goan simpletons into the much talked about casino culture.
26[13A. Authorized Game— (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the Government may authorize any game of electronic amusement/slot machines in Five Star Hotels 27{and such table games and gaming on board in vessels offshore as may be notified} subject to such conditions, including payment of such recurring and non-recurring fees, as may be prescribed.
However, the credit of bringing in casinos to Goa goes to then Chief Minister, Pratapsingh Rane. In August 1996, Rane managed to get yet another amendment passed hurriedly. It was a simple addition after the words Five Star hotels – “and such table games and gaming on board in vessels offshore as may be notified.”
To clear the remaining hurdles, yet another lot of amendments to the rules was published on 2 May 2001 by the then Francisco Sardinha government, which imposed fees of Rs 50 lakh for 20 machines and tables while also specifying the licensed premises for the actual casino.
After the Congress it was the turn of the then Manohar Parrikar led BJP government who brought in a major amendment in 2012- it banned transfer of casino licenses, permitted entry of only tourists with valid entry permit (no Goans allowed) and heavy punishments for violations.
It again made yet another amendment to 2012, inserted Section 2(9) in the Act and defined a vessel to mean and “include any ship, boat, duly registered with the Captain of Ports, Goa, under the Inland Vessel Act, 1917 (Act 1 of 1917), or registered with the Director General of Shipping.” The earlier definition of vessel meant and included “any ship, boat, etc used in navigation and licensed by the Director General of Shipping, Ministry of Surface Transport, Government of India.”
