Goa’s government has vowed to take action against unauthorized advertisements for Sri Lankan casinos promoting online gaming in the coastal state.
Addressing the nation’s legislative assembly on Tuesday, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant assured that the state will pull down all such illegal hoardings (advertising boards), as reported by the Indo-Asian News Service.
The issue was raised by Goa Forward Party MLA Viaji Sardesai, who claimed that despite his earlier complaint to the Home Department, the authorities had not taken any action against these advertisements, which he said violate the Goa Daman and Diu Gambling Act.
Sardesai questioned how these advertisements were being allowed, arguing that online gaming is considered illegal and not permitted under the GST Council’s rules.
In a response, CM Sawant acknowledged that a case has been registered at the Porvorim police station regarding the unauthorized casino advertisements. He stated that the state is taking legal advice and will register more cases to crack down on such violations.
“Hoardings of those having casinos in Sri Lanka and trying to operate online gaming from here will not be allowed. The state is not earning any revenue out of it. Our advertising policy is not finalized, and they are taking benefit of it. But I can assure you that we will pull down the hoardings or raze them,” Sawant told the legislative assembly.
The move comes as part of Goa’s efforts to tighten its grip on gambling activities and ensure compliance with the relevant laws and regulations. The coastal state has recently agreed to amend the local Goods and Services Tax Act to clarify the taxability of various forms of gambling.
The currently valid law is an amendment to the original 2017 GST Act and only came into force in October of last year. The new bill will clarify how gambling activities – including horse racing, casinos and betting – are taxed.
