Panaji: State govt on Thursday banned the entry of any person below the age of 21 years in the gambling area of any onshore and offshore casinos. Goa has dozens of onshore and six offshore casinos operational.State govt amended the Goa Public Gambling Act, 1976, to fix the age limit to enter gambling zones of casinos. Under secretary, home, Manthan Manoj Naik, said that designated licensed places/areas means a separated area in a five-star hotel or vessel partitioned with access control where the licensee is authorised to install and operate electronic amusements/slot machines or table games.“No person below the age of 21 years shall be allowed entry in areas where a licensee installs and operates games of electronic amusements/slot machines or table games in a five-star hotel or vessel,” he said.Naik further said for any delayed payment of the annual recurring fee, the licensee will be liable to pay penal interest of 18% per annum on the outstanding amount.Govt has also approved the Goa Public Gambling Rules to regulate casino operations in the state but it is yet to be notified.Once the rules come into force, the gaming commissioner will maintain a record of the number of visitors to a casino. “The next day, the gaming commissioner will be able to check the inventory to find how many people entered the casino,” Naik said.In March 2019, state govt appointed the commissioner of commercial taxes as the gaming commissioner, but since the rules were not framed, his duties were not defined.
