the goan I network
PANAJI
Goa could soon find a couple more added to its list of one dozen land and six off-shore operational casinos if the State government grants licences to two hotel promoters who are seeking to establish these on their properties in North Goa.
A hotel in North Goa’s Bardez taluka has already applied for a casino licence and another that has come up in Tiswadi’s new developing township on the Kadamba plateau has approached with queries on the procedures to apply, top government sources told The Goan.
The latter hotel along the Old Goa highway by-pass however hasn’t formally furnished an application, the source said, but declined to identify the hotels. The source also said that the government has not yet taken any decision on the application for new casino licence.
The State government however is on record that it will not grant any new licences for off-shore casinos, six of which are currently operating in the Mandovi river. It is still open to granting permissions for setting up new casinos in 5-star hotels on land, though.
Currently there are 12 casinos operating on land in 5-star hotels across the State.
The state government had hiked annual licence fees for casinos and is estimated to be collecting close to Rs 250 crore in revenues from the industry. Besides, the State also earns sizable amount of revenues from entrance fees and other applicable local taxes from the casino industry.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had last week defended the government’s policy on casinos saying the industry was an integral part of the State’s tourism industry.
A hotel in North Goa’s Bardez taluka has already applied for a casino licence
Another at the Kadamba plateau has approached with queries on procedures to apply
Govt has not yet taken any decision on applications
Currently there are 12 casinos operating on land in various 5-star hotels
Govt had hiked annual licence fees for casinos and is estimated to be collecting close to Rs 250 crore
State also earns revenue from entrance fees and other applicable local taxes from casino industry
