• About Us
  • The Team
  • Advertise with Us

The latest news on the gaming industry in Asia

() () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () ()
  • Home
  • Macau
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • Japan
  • Rest of Asia
  • World
  • Industry Talk
  • Trends & Tech
  • iGaming
  • follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • RSS Feed
    • LinkedIn

India region casinos hit by black money crackdown: ICE

Feb 09, 2017 Newsdesk Latest News, Rest of Asia, Top of the deck  


India region casinos hit by black money crackdown: ICE

The outlook for the gaming industry in India was discussed on the second day of this year’s International Casino Exhibition (ICE), an industry trade show that is branded ICE Totally Gaming. The event is held at the ExCeL convention centre in London in the United Kingdom.

Wednesday’s panel covered recent events including the issuance of the first casino licences and operations in the Indian province of Sikkim and the pressure mounting to regulate sports betting due to what were termed “integrity scandals” relating to unregulated products.

“India Briefing”, hosted by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the All India Gaming Federation – the latter a policy advocacy and research body and forum – also discussed the Indian central government’s recent move to take existing INR500 (US$7.47) and INR1,000 notes out of circulation. The move was touted by the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a way of taking so-called ‘black’ money – i.e., cash undeclared for tax and other official purposes – out of circulation.

“Due to this demonetisation, casinos in Goa, Sikkim and Nepal have been deeply impacted in the last couple of months, with business falling by 80 percent or more, but [are] expected to be back to normal in the next one or two quarters,” said background notes introducing the session.

The introductory information added that the stock price of Delta Corp, a listed company that operates casino boats in the Indian state of Goa – and which in January announced it would soon start operations in Sikkim – had seen declines of “around 45 percent,” following India’s “demonetisation”.

“Illegal gambling, betting and matka (illegal gambling on digits) – businesses, rampant in India, have almost been eradicated” by the central government initiative, added the background notes.

“It is however believed that the slowdown for the legal casino and gaming business will only be temporary in nature, while there will be permanent damage to the illegal betting and gambling syndicates, which operate solely on the basis of black or unaccounted money,” the notes stated.

The briefing session also covered topics including a Law Commission of India study on legalising sports betting and reforming gambling laws; and discussions between the industry and the state governments of, respectively, Kerala, Puducherry, Karnataka and elsewhere on allowing forms of gaming or casinos.

An April 2016 report by consultancy Global Market Advisors LLC said casino gambling by the growing middle class of Indian nationals had the potential to generate nearly US$10.2 billion annually by the year 2025, provided there was the right product close to affluent domestic consumer markets.


  • tweet
Related articles
  • Quarantine-free Indonesia-Singapore air travel from Nov 29
    Quarantine-free Indonesia-Singapore air...

    Nov 16, 2021  

  • Sci Games says ‘Singing Cats’ nodded in 9 APAC markets
    Sci Games says ‘Singing Cats’...

    Jan 27, 2021  

More news
  • Covid-19 test certificate to enter Macau casinos
    Covid-19 test certificate to enter...

    Jun 27, 2022  

  • Parisian quarantine hotel as Macau Covid cases near 360
    Parisian quarantine hotel as Macau...

    Jun 27, 2022  


Latest News

Covid-19 test certificate to enter Macau casinos

Covid-19 test certificate to enter Macau casinos

Jun 27, 2022  

Macau’s health authorities said on Sunday that they would require all people wishing to enter the city’s casinos not only to have their body temperature measured and to display a...
Read More
Parisian quarantine hotel as Macau Covid cases near 360

Parisian quarantine hotel as Macau Covid cases near 360

Jun 27, 2022  

Maybe new Macau mass Covid test, community spread still

Maybe new Macau mass Covid test, community spread still

Jun 24, 2022  

Sign up to our FREE Newsletter

UB8V5.qr.16(Click here for more)

Pick of the Day


US$5.8 million

Amount that each Macau casino operator paid for the circa six-month extension of their respective contract



Most Popular

  • Maybe new Macau mass Covid test, community spread stillMaybe new Macau mass Covid test, community spread still June 24, 2022
  • Blackstone clinches US$6.15bln takeover of Crown ResortsBlackstone clinches US$6.15bln takeover of Crown Resorts June 24, 2022
  • Parisian quarantine hotel as Macau Covid cases near 360Parisian quarantine hotel as Macau Covid cases near 360 June 27, 2022
  • Jeju still studying online gaming for its casinos: govtJeju still studying online gaming for its casinos: govt June 24, 2022
  • Alvin Chau, Suncity trial set for September 2: courtAlvin Chau, Suncity trial set for September 2: court June 20, 2022
Copyright 2014-2022 TEAM Publishing and Consultancy Ltd / All rights reserved
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us