Goa Government Drafts Rules to Keep Locals Out of Casinos

The Goa govt has finally begun the process for drafting casino rules, with an independent Gaming Commissioner to ensure these rules were implemented in the state. According to a news report in the Times of India, Sanjiv Gadkar, Additional Secretary (Home) confirmed that draft rules had been designed and had been submitted to the Law Department for approval, after which they would be notified. If passed, the rules give authorities the power to arrest any Goan caught gambling at casinos in the state, irrespective of age. There would also be a provision to arrest persons who are under the age of 21 years, if they are found gambling in a casino.

These rules would be enforced by a gaming commissioner, whose qualification and appointment procedure, has been specifically noted in the draft rules. Additionally, the commissioner would assign agents, who would issue permits of authorization to applicants for entering areas of gambling.

The draft rules state, “The permit will be issued based on the identity proof—PAN card, licence, aadhaar card, etc—provided by the person who wants to gamble at a casino.”

The rules also state that appropriate authorities, including the Police would conduct regular searches on casinos to check that the rules were being followed. The draft declares that any Goan caught gambling could be prosecuted under the criminal provisions of the Goa, Daman & Diu Public Gambling Act, 1976 and would be deemed to be participating in a ‘common gaming house’.

The entire process of getting the rules approved and implemented is expected to take six months to a year, provided the govt did not put it into cold storage. The casino industry does have an option of challenging these rules, but considering that they are currently promoting tourism, this may not occur.

The draft rules have made it clear that these will not affect any of the Goans working at the four offshore and about a dozen onshore casinos in the state.

In 2012, the Goa legislative assembly had passed amendments to the Goa, Daman & Diu Public Gambling Act to stop natives from frequenting casinos, but had stopped short of passing any harsh rules to prosecute them.

In recent times, the presiding BJP govt has come under attack from local NGOs and the opposition party, Congress for backtracking on its election promise of eradicating casino culture, which they claimed was ruining the life of the locals with corruption.