Offering tables and EGMs
Lawmakers in the Indian state of Goa have drafted new regulations for its gaming industry, envisioning a designated land-based casino zone to replace the casino boats now operating on the Mandovi River.
According to the Business Standard, the proposed regulations would allow casinos to offer both table and electronic gaming and develop casinos outside five-star hotels. Casinos inside hotels would only able to offer electronic gaming with no tables, local media report. A prime locale could be near the new Mopa International Airport.
India’s Herald newspaper said the new setup would ban locals gaming; Goans caught gambling in the state’s casinos could face imprisonment of up to one year and fines of up to R500. Goa’s current offshore casinos will be allowed to operate for four years after the bill is enacted and may get a further extension if they’ve applied for a license for a land-based casino.
Asia Gaming Brief reports that the opposition Congress Party wants the government to auction casino licenses instead of automatically granting them to the river-based operators.
“The license should be auctioned, because that is the policy adopted across the country,” Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President Girish Chodankar told the Times of India. “Coal blocks, mining licenses and 2G spectrum are auctioned, so why not auction casino licenses too?”
