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Casinos in Goa and decades of glamorous gambling

When you hear the word Goa, the first thought that pops up in your mind is partying till midnight and lit casinos on the Mandovi coast. Ancient India was one of the main places that begun gambling along with China and Rome. According to many legends, during the time when Kings ruled India,  the successor to the royal throne was chosen by rolling the dice. Indian warriors have also been known for playing dice games with Vibhidaka nuts, which have five facets. 

 Today, gambling is only allowed in 3 Indian states, namely Goa, Diu and Daman and Sikkim. The first casino in Gao opened in the year 1999. Floating casinos on passenger boats are a major tourist attraction. Currently, there are 16 casinos in Goa, which receive an estimated 15,000 guests every day. Deltin Royale, Casino Carnival, Casino Palms, Casino Pride,and Big daddy casino are some of them most famous ones. Goa is also home to Asia’s biggest floating casino, Big Daddy casino which launched in 2019 at the offshore of the Mandovi river.

As forms of Entertainment destinations, casinos are equipped with  gourmet restaurants and bars, sundeck, live-performances and children’s play area too. The casinos  are particularly popular due to their extensive range of India-specific games. With the most exuisite services to offer, goa tops the list of favoured tourist destinations in India.

The casinos are well equipped and follow the Goa Public Gambling Act, 1976 :

• Casinos can be set up only at five-star hotels or offshore vessels with the prior permission from the government.
• As per the recent amendment, the casino operators have to shell out INR 5 crore for running casinos instead of the earlier license fee of INR 1 crore. (Apart from two major factors, casinos have to abide by other formalities as specified in the Act).

However, gambling is a state subject in India and the respective state government formulates laws for gambling activities. As the industry contributes heavily to the economy of Goa, comprehensive casino legislations are prevalent. Casinos, irrespective of land-based or offshore are taxed at the rate of 10%. Looking at a social aspect, casinos in Goa are creating a surge in the economic sector and attract lakhs of visitors every year. Due to the ongoing pandemic and strict lockdown rules, casinos are yet to reopen in Goa. 

For more updates about casinos in Goa and other states of India, keep reading GutshotMagazine.com

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