It looks like the Indian state of Karnataka will not legalize casino gaming as a way to increase tourism and boost the local economy.
Last week, Indian news media reported that Karnataka Tourism Minister C.T. Ravi had floated the idea as a way for the cash-strapped state to better compete with neighboring Goa, home of a dozen land-based and river-based casinos.
According to the Indian news website ThePrint.in, Ravi made the suggestion before a meeting of the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry, but “realized at once that the idea may not be greeted very well in Karnataka, where gambling can land one in jail for anywhere between three months and a year.”
He instantly dropped the subject, but was pressed by the news media to elaborate on his plan. “I was only suggesting various options for revenue generation,” Ravi said. “I had suggested a Buddha Trail, a Ramayana circuit, village and heritage tourism to showcase Karnataka’s culture. I only mentioned casinos to make it known that places like Goa, Macau, Las Vegas and Sri Lanka have greatly benefited through direct and indirect revenue from casinos.”
“It’s not just about running casinos, but the other industries that will develop along with them. From hotels, to taxis to airline companies, think of the number of people who will find employment with this,” he added. “Has it not worked in places like Los Angeles, Goa, Sri Lanka?”
But just as he seemed to again promote the plan, Ravi, a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party, said, “As a BJP representative and a representative of Karnataka’s ethos … casinos may not be suitable.”
Senior BJP leader and state Agriculture Minister B.C. Patil supported Ravi, calling his plan a “good move.” But an unnamed senior BJP functionary said such a suggestion was not in keeping with the party’s conservative outlook.
“We are a party that has been campaigning to ban liquor consumption, ban any sort of betting or gambling,” the functionary said. “We are trying to get people away from vices, it would be wrong to have considered it.”
Ravi made clear that his idea was not to legalize casino gambling state-wide, but rather to contain it within a single, special zone as a magnet for tourists.
“It will be allowed only at a particular place where the government approves. The department will soon place the proposal before the government. Once it is cleared, the destination to set up the station will be finalized,” he added.
The state government would not be an investor, but would turn over the zone to private business and act as policymaker and regulator.
Ravi was quickly hit by criticism for his proposal, however, with Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi responding, “There is no need to convert Karnataka into a gambling den.”
Battered by the onslaught, Ravi quickly began to back away from his own proposal.
“I am not supporting the idea directly. I bat for innovative ideas to promote tourism in the state. Only my reference to gambling stations has been highlighted in the media… Gambling station is against the Indian culture. However, there is a need to prevent money from India being spent on gambling stations abroad,” he contended.
