Allegations that minors continue to enter Goa’s offshore casinos with impunity have reignited questions about whether authorities are enforcing laws meant to shield chil dren and young people from gambling. Ponnjekars Against Casi nos (PAC) on Tuesday ac cused multiple government agencies of failing to act despite being repeatedly alerted to what it claims are clear violations of both the Goa Public Gambling Act and the Goa Children’s Act. According to PAC, a com plaint submitted to the Panaji Police Station on April 25 this year detailing the alleged entry of under age persons into casino vessels has yet to result in the registration of an FIR. PAC claims that despite follow-up meetings with police officials, no visible action has been taken. The organisation pointed to Section 5(xiii) of the Goa Public Gambling Act, 1976, which expressly prohibits persons below 21 years of age from entering offshore casino vessels and licensed gaming premises.
It also cited provisions of the Goa Children’s Act, 2003, which criminalise the inducement of children into gam bling activities and classify such conduct as a form of abuse. “The law is unambiguous, yet enforcement appears ab sent,” PAC said, questioning how minors continue to gain access to casino vessels despite statutory safeguards. The group’s concerns extend beyond the police. PAC said it approached the Gaming Commissioner on April 28 seeking intervention, only to be allegedly informed during a subsequent meeting that there were no rules or institu tional mechanisms under the Goa Gambling Act to process such complaints. PAC has also taken the issue to the Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (GSCPCR).
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During a meeting on June 8, the delegation raised concerns not only about minors entering casinos but also about what it described as the growing normalisation of gambling through adver tising and promotional activities that could influence chil dren and young adults. The group warned that gambling addiction carries seri ous social, psychological and financial consequences, par ticularly for impressionable young people, and argued that failure to enforce existing laws risks exposing an entire generation to those harms. According to PAC, GSCPCR Chairperson Dr Shashikant Punaji informed the delegation that the Commission had already discussed the issue internally and would examine the matter further before taking appropriate action. For PAC, however, assurances are no substitute for en forcement. The organisation has demanded immediate action to prevent persons below 21 years of age from entering ca sino vessels, investigate alleged violations and ensure that laws enacted to protect children are not reduced to mere words on paper.
