Goa CM Hikes Casino License Fee By 1 Crore, Relocation of Casinos to be Decided on Mar 30; UB Group Among Applicants For New License

Casinos in Goa
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  • PG News March 17, 2016
  • 2 Minutes Read

Yesterday’s budget speech in the legislative assembly brought bad news for Goa`s Casino operators, with Laxmikant Parsekar, Chief Minister of the State announcing a hike in annual licensing fees for onshore and offshore casinos by almost ₹1 crore. The session was also wracked by speculations on the coming March 31 deadline for shifting the offshore casinos.

In his budget speech, Parsekar addressed the Speaker stating that onshore casinos with an area up to 100 sq mts that paid ₹2.5 crores in annual licensing fees, would now have to pay ₹3.5 crores. Offshore casinos with passenger capacity of 100 people would now be liable to pay ₹8 crores, as against the earlier license of ₹7 crores. This hike is the third in as many years, with last year onshore casinos paying ₹50 Lakhs more for an annual license and offshore casinos ponying up ₹1 crore for the same.

Parsekar also announced that the entry tax for casino visitors has been increased to ₹1000, from the existing ₹700. Additionally, Parsekar informed the media that “There is still time… I will take my decision on extension or no further extension only on March 30. Government will look into it,” on being asked about shifting of the offshore casinos. Parsekar added “I will take care of the issue.”

Last year the government had extended the December 31, 2015 deadline for shifting of the casinos to March 31, 2016 and in fact just a few days ago, Parsekar had told the Indian Express that no suitable alternate locations had been found yet.

Besides the hikes, Parsekar also informed the assembly that six companies had applied for casino licenses in 2013 and UB Infrastructure Projects Limited, a part of the Vijay Mallya`s UB Group was one among them. Answering former CM Digambar Kamath’s query on the new applicantions, Parsekar sent a written reply stating that no licenses have been approved till now. He further added that the companies had sent simple applications, which were not clear on details, as to whether they were for onshore or offshore casinos.

Vijay Mallya is currently under the government lens as a declared “Willful Defaulter” and approximately ₹9,000 crores in disputable loans by various public sector banks to his company are currently under investigation.

Delta Corp, MKM Grand Gaming and Entertainment, Goan Recreation Clubs, Eden Estates and Leisure and Goa Golf Club were the other applicants, besides UB Infrastructure, Parsekar stated.

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