Goa casino regulations ready next financial year: report

Feb 18, 2016 Newsdesk Latest News, Rest of Asia, Top of the deck  

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The Indian state of Goa is taking steps to create casino regulations and set up a regulator for its local industry, according to a report on Wednesday by the Press Trust of India.

The drafting of the regulations has largely been completed, said the report, quoting a senior state official.

The rules – that will mandate the appointment of a gaming commissioner as the regulating authority for casinos – must be approved by the state cabinet, the media outlet added.

The regulations should be made public by the next financial year, stated the report.

They will include a requirement that casino customers carry documentation proving they are aged 21 or above. That minimum age requirement will also be mandated under the regulations.

The steps have been ordered by Goa’s governing party, the right-of-centre Bharatiya Janata Party, commonly known as the BJP.

The report quoted Goa state official Sanjiv Gadkar saying: “The draft rules were sent to the [state’s] law department for vetting and seeking its opinion. We have received the file back. Some minor changes are needed… and we will be notifying [sic] the rules by the coming financial year.”

Goa is home to four casino boats that operate offshore and several onshore gaming venues at five-star hotels, according to the report.

GGRAsia reviewed the current entry age policy for several of the casinos operating in Goa – namely the casino boat Deltin JAQK (pictured) run by Delta Corp Ltd, and Casino Carnival, run by Goan Carnival and Leisure Pvt Ltd and located at Goa Marriott Resort and Spa. The casino venues’ respective websites indicate the properties already impose a minimum age of 21 on casino patrons.

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