The director of one of Goa’s largest floating casinos is asking the government to consider significant financial assistance for the hospitality and tourism industries, including casinos.
According to Inside Asian Gaming, Naik has requested wants a three-year tax holiday and a six-month waiver on interest charges to ease the financial crunch caused by Covid-19.
“In order to reduce overall cost of operation and increase funds for disposal in the hands of the industry, the government should provide tax holidays … for at least three years beginning from FY2020-21,” Naik said.
He also urged the government to “allow the industry to pay minimum sustenance allowance to its employees during lockdown period and post lockdown period of six months,” and to require any employees who have taken a salary during lockdown to remain with their employer for at least six months until April 2021.
Six floating casinos typically operate off Goa on the Mandovi River. They were forced to close March 15, and currently there’s no plan to reopen them, according to Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
Naik’s other requests include a waiver on interest payments on business loans, no charge on electricity for six months and a similar waiver on payments to internet service providers.
