Maharashtra Govt Vetoes Offshore Casinos

Offshore Casinos in Maharashtra
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  • PG News December 24, 2016
  • 1 Minute Read

There are to be no casinos in Maharashtra, anytime soon, as the state government has vetoed the proposal for offshore hubs, considering that it has already come down heavily on bars and should continue that line of policy. Security was also cited as a reason for the refusal.

A senior home department official revealed that “After making stringent rules to not allow dance bars to function, the government cannot let casinos operate.” He added that the proposal being for offshore casinos, security would be vulnerable along the coastline and this further influenced the government’s decision.

The news was reported by the Times of India today, which stated that the government was looking at launching offshore casinos, after a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed. The PIL referred to the pending Maharashtra Casinos (Control & Tax) Act, 1976, which allows casinos to function legally in the state on the payment of requisite fees. The Act had been approved by the Governor on July 22, 1976, but had not been notified by the government.

Following the PIL, filed by Jay Sayta of Glaws.in, the court had directed the state home department to respond to the matter. The state had held special meetings with all stake holders and the Tourism ministry had evinced great interest in the proposal, as it would net the state an additional revenue of ₹1,500 crores a year.

Currently, casinos are legally allowed only in Goa, Daman and Sikkim, though states such as Karnataka and West Bengal allow poker for stakes. Several of these states are already mulling offshore casinos to boost tourism and tax revenues, besides other coastal areas like Puducherry.

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