Puducherry on path to Legalise Casinos but LG expresses Opposition
The Union Territory of Puducherry may be on the path to legalise and permit c๊asinos in the region after three years of dithering and deliberations.
As per media repor🐲ts, although the elected government headed by Chief Minister V Narayanasamy has almost made up its mind to allow casinos in the state for the purpose of promoting tourism, Lieutenant Governor (LG) sayi🐲ng that the government should keep the ‘wolf of gambling’ away from a spiritual and pristine Puducherry.
Bedi also stated that allowing casinos will impact the quality of domestic and international tourists besides causing soci🧸al problems.
Narayanasamy however claimed that on whether casinos should be allowed in the territory and added that various locations l🎃ike Goa, Sikkim, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Singapore have casinos to attr𓂃act tourists.
He added that the L💙G is working with a revengeful attitude and that Puducherry is in severe need of funds and ꧑permission to allow lotteries, casinos and breweries would bolster the state exchequer.
The Chief Minister however noted that the legiꦯslative assembly will take a final decision on whether casinos and breweries will be allowed in t꧙he state or not.
Notably, the Puducherry government has been toyin🍬⭕g with the idea of allowing casinos within its territory since 2016. Narayansamy had indicated in July 2016 after assuming charge as CM that he was open to allowing offshore casinos i🙈n the UT for promot♍ing tourism, on the lines of Goa.
State Health & Tourism Minister Malladi Krishna Rao had also stated that the cabinet hᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚad discussꦺed the issue and🎀 was looking at permitting casinos in Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam. A delegation of government officials from Puducherry had also proposed an official study tour to Goa to evaluate the model of 🧜allowing casinos.
Besides casinos, the Puducherry government is also like๊ly to 🏅look at restarting sale of state lotteries within and outside the UT to augment revenues.
