India to decide on casino Act

Maharashtra still needs to answer a High Court direction.

India.- It is not the first time that political parties in India express their opposition towards the casino industry, and earlier this month, Goa Suraksha Manch (GSM) said that they will shut down casinos in Goa once it is voted to power. They believe the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are trying to intimidate voters to vote for a different party.

BJP still hasn’t said anything about GSM’s promise to shut down casinos. “They will try to promote proper tourism through which the government will generate revenue,” said Hridaynath Shirodkar, GSM General Secretary. Back in October 2016, Bombay’s High Court urged the Maharashtra government to decide whether they intend to act on Maharashtra Casinos (Control & Tax) Act, 1976, which would allow the state to become the third one to offer casino services. Goa and Sikkim are the only two states that have allowed casinos in India. The Bombay High Court directed the Maharashtra government on October 2016 to take a decision within six months time on implementation of the four-decade-old law.

According to Times of India, Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said that he questions whether BJP would allow casinos in the state to boost tourism in the zone. The journal said that Fadnavis dodged the question stating that he would answer such thing in Maharashtra. The current Public Gambling Act of 1867 is a Central Law that prohibits running or being in charge of a public gaming house.