Goa approves new casino regulations

The law department of the Indian city of Goa approved new rules that will open the doors for a new gaming commissioner.

India.- The law department of Goa approved the new rules to regulate casino operations in the state. The new regulations are set to facilitate the appointment of a gaming commissioner in the state, which has been under the spotlight for quite some time now.

A law officer confirmed that the law department of Goa has examined the draft rules for casinos. “Upon approval by the chief minister, who is also the home minister, we will place the file for approval of the cabinet,” the official said, as local media reported. The chief minister may suggest some changes. Upon effecting those changes, the draft rules will be sent for cabinet approval,” he added.

Some of the changes include banning the entry of locals to Goa casinos and increasing the age to 21 years old. Moreover, the chief minister of Goa would have the option to appoint a gaming commissioner either from the state or an IAS officer.

Goa has been under scrutiny in the last several months as the city still hasn’t found a place to move the off-shore casinos, even though authorities have expressed their intentions to eliminate them from the Mandovi River. Goa panchayat minister Mauvin Godinho claimed the state government would move the casinos out of the local river within the next three years.