meghalaya: Meghalaya government has put on hold the move to set up casinos in the state

Chief minister, Conrad K. Sangma said, “We have given instruction to stop any further process to happen, but the processes that happen before that order was given, those processes are there, hence the decision that we have taken and the communication that we have made to everybody was we are not going to move any further then where we are Before the debate started and before we met the NGOs and the Church leaders, certain processes has already taken place and those are the process that was mentioned in the house that day that happen to give three provisional licences, provisional means it’s a temporary licences that was given with the condition that within six months or eight months the operation have to start.”

Despite strong organisation from different quarters, Meghalaya government had issued licences to set up three casinos.

The Joint Action Committee Against Casino (JACAC) and other organisations have been strongly agitating against the setting up of casinos. The JACAC would hold a public meeting in Nongpoh on September 23 to decide on the further course of action on the issue. JACAC Secretary Ferdynald Kharkamni said they are upset over the government’s decision, which also contradicts Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma’s earlier assurance. He pointed out that people of Meghalaya are not familiar with casino-type gambling which are now operating in Sikkim and Goa.

The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) criticised Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government for introducing the Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming Act, 2021, to pave the way for casinos.

Meghalaya United Christian Forum (MUCF) expressed “apprehension and shock” over the state government’s decision to legalize gambling and online betting for tourists coming to the state.

The MUCF in a statement earlier said that online gambling and casinos might generate a lot of revenue for the government but the bigger question is whether people are willing to pay the price and are they ready to bear the repercussions of such an endeavour on the society at large.

In February this year Meghalaya Prevention of Gambling Act, 1970 was nullified by the state government. The state cabinet approved the Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming Ordinance, 2021.

Traditionally there is gambling in the state with 'teer' or traditional archery games. However, the state government is not getting revenue from this informal betting. (Catch all the Business News, Breaking News Events and Updates on The Economic Times.)

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