For all those asking when are the Goa casinos reopening, here’s great news for you. The Goa cabinet has decided to allow casinos by 50% capacity from November 1. However, strict COVID-19 guidelines would be followed in the casinos. There are six offshore and around a dozen onshore casinos in Goa, which had to be shut since the COVID-19 outbreak since March. Since the industry closed in March, many staff went back home. Now the operators will take a few days to get the business up and running.
Also read: Goa To Get Sand Dune Parks In Morjim And Galgibaga Beaches Soon
The Casino Operators Will Have To Pay A License Fee
Apart from following the SOPs, the casino operators will also have to pay a license fee before resuming operations. However, while the operators had to pay their annual payments at a go, now they can do so every month. The casinos are a significant contributor to the state’s revenue. The casino operators have been urging the government to resume operations which could help boost the arrivals of domestic travellers in the state. Goa To Reopen Beach Shacks Along The North This November; Less Hope For South Goa.
Goa Casinos Contribute To ₹300 A Year
Goa casinos is a 19-year-old industry that contributes around ₹300 crores to the state as licence fees and about ₹90 crores per year as State GST. One offshore vessel began operations 1999 and the state today has six gaming vessels that float within a one-kilometre stretch of the Mandovi. Each ship had a turnover of around ₹120 crores per year and drew 600-800 people per container. Indians Travel Again; Bookings Increase For Goa, Jaipur & Kochi During Weekend
As the state slowly unlocks, it has allowed various tourism and commercial activities to resume to get the economy back on track.