License fee hike impact: 2 onshore Goa casinos shut shop

Weeks after 𓄧the Goa government drastically hiked recurrin𓄧g annual license fees payable by onshore and offshore casinos by almost 400%, at least three onshore casinos have shut down operations, citing inability to pay the in𝓰creased levies.

The Crown Casino in Hotel Crown and Carnival Casino in Mဣarriott Hotel shut down operations last month due to the almost four fold increase in license fees, which has been described by the industry as harsh and draconian.

Further, the state government also shut down Casino Strike in Grand Hyatt Hotel yesterday after the company that operated the gaming house failed to pay the annual license fees within the deadline. Incidentally, Strike꧟ Casino was the biggest onshore casino in Goa until its closure.

As per news reports, the Strike Casino manage𒅌ment failed to pay the revised license fees even within the extended deadline period of 8th May, after which . News reports indicate that so far, five offshor𝓀e and seven onshore casinos have paid the revised license fees.

One of the offshore🅺 casino operators, Gopal Kanda-backeꦯd Golden Globe Hotels Pvt. Ltd. (the company that operates the recently opened Big Daddy casino) has approached the Goa bench of the Bombay High Court seeking relaxation in the license fees and permission to pay the license fees in installments.

A division bench of Justices Prithviraj Chavan and NM Jamdar declined to grant interim relief to the company but noted that the petitioner could approach the vacation court for appropriate relief if a show cause notice is issued🐬 to it. The court has nﷺow posted the matter for hearing on 6th June.

Eꦉarlier, a bunch of casino operators had made a representation to the state government seeking reduction in the license fee hike but .

The increasꦚe in license fee and closure of few casinos may result in consolidation of the gaming industry in the state and only a few operators may be able to survive and flourish.