PORVORIM: In the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai questioned how licences for on-shore (land-based) and off-shore casinos were being renewed despite their default on government dues amounting to Rs 556 crore.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant responded that the total outstanding amount was approximately Rs 349.89 crore for the past four to five years and that recovery efforts were underway. If recovery fails, the properties of the defaulting casinos will be confiscated within a year. Sawant further mentioned that four defaulting casinos had already shut down and another four were currently involved in litigation.
The Chief Minister informed Sardesai that the lack of an advertising policy was hindering action against illegal online gaming advertisements and advertisements from casinos in Sri Lanka and other online gaming apps. Sawant stated that, in some cases, electricity supply had been discontinued while the State’s advertising policy was being finalised. The government had sought legal opinions on the matter and had demolished illegal hoardings.
Sardesai also alleged that the government had renewed a licence for a hotel in Candolim even though the hotel had outstanding dues of Rs 80 crore. The hotelier had applied for the licence in January 2022, and it was renewed in September 2023. Sardesai claimed this involved an Under Secretary and urged the Chief Minister to probe the matter. Sawant agreed to investigate the issue.
