Goa likely to defer casino regulations until after 2027 election
Although the state home department has finalised the draft rules, officials believe there may not be enough Assembly sitting days to complete the process.
India.- The implementation of Goa’s new casino operating rules is expected to be pushed into the next government’s term due. That’s because procedural requirements could delay their approval until after the state’s 2027 assembly election.
Provisions in the Goa, Daman and Diu Public Gambling Act, 1976 require the Goa Public Gambling Rules to be published in the Official Gazette and tabled before the Goa Legislative Assembly for at least 14 sitting days before they can take effect.
Although the state home department has finalised the draft rules, officials believe there may not be enough sitting days to complete the process before the election. The government has proposed convening the Assembly on August 31, but the duration of the session has yet to be confirmed.
The delay means Goa’s gaming commissioner will continue to operate without the full regulatory powers envisioned when the position was created in 2019. Under the proposed framework, the gaming commissioner would oversee casino operations, supervise the issuance of entry tickets, maintain gaming records and enforce regulatory compliance. The office would also keep records of casino visitors, replacing the current system under which entry tickets are issued by casino operators.
The rules are also intended to address regulatory gaps identified by state officials, including the lack of a mechanism to verify the source of casino patrons’ funds or track how much individuals spend at onshore and offshore casinos.
Goa has more than a dozen land-based casinos and six offshore casino vessels. The new rules were drafted in 2022 before revision in 2023.
