Parsekar: Object is to reduce casinos
The government of the Indian state of Goa has raised the price of a casino license for bricks-and-mortar operations for the third time in three years.
According to CalvinAyre.com, the increases are based on the casino’s size. For example, onshore casinos occupying up to 100 square meters (about 3.8 square miles) will see their rate go from INR2.50 crore (US$373,900) to INR3.50 crore (US$523,500) per year. Casinos up to 300 square meters would have to pay INR4.50 crore (US$673,100) in tax, up from last year’s INR3 crore (US$224,300), the Times of India reported. Casinos larger than 300 square meters up to 500 square meters will now pay INR5 crore (US$748,000), and those from 500 square meters to 750 square meters will pay INR6.5 crore (US$972,500).
Casinos between 750 square meters and 1,000 square meters are required to pay INR8 crore (US$1.196 million), while those larger than 1,000 square meters will pay INR8.5 crore (US$1.271 million) each year.
Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar said the decision was made “to reduce the number of onshore casinos from a double-digit figure to a single-digit figure” while also boosting revenues for the state.
Goa now has 11 land-based gaming halls and five floating casinos. Goa is one of the three Indian states that allow gaming, along with Sikkim and Daman.
