Casino bill, restraining Goans, introduced
PTI, PANAJI | 06 August 2012 22:56 IST
Goa government today introduced a bill which seeks to disallow the locals from entering the casinos, allowing only the tourists above 21 years of age.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar today tabled `Goa Gambling (Amendment) Bill, 2012' in the Assembly.
It also prescribes six years' imprisonment or fine of Rs 10 lakh for the casino owner, if a local is found at the establishment.
Only exception to the ban would be those Goans who are working at casinos.
Goa has six off-shore (ship-based) and 16 on-shore casinos.
The bill also creates an authority called Gaming Commissioner, which will have the right to give tourist permits to the visitors for visiting casinos.
The Commissioner will have the right to order closure, to seal any place in five star hotel, or to take custody of any casino ship.
The state government will have the right to inspect any ship anytime, and a tourist who is found without permit will be fined ten times the permit fee.
May seem good on "paper"...but rarely good in "Practice.!
Many Bills & Acts have been enacted...but all have failed to deliver.and are actually abused by the Legislators themselves & their family members.
There may need to be, a new Bill introduced, giving Goan Legislators (MLA`s),many who are hard crore gamblers "Legislative Immunity"....a kind of "diplomatic immunity" or "V.V.I.P. Immunity.
So now we must wonder, where are the Goan Legislators(MLA`s) going to spend the loot & plunder. Coud it be out of State...or Dubai?
I wonder what the amount of bribes will be, to keep the Govt. Vigilantes (Police) maintaing silence, if a Goan is caught gambling in a Casino??.
No doubt, going by experience,...the Rich & powerful as always, will be pardoned & the poor & ordinary will be heavily penalised/imprisoned/prosecuted.