Gambling in Goa Gets Tougher: Casinos Undergo Tremendous Regulation Pressure

Goa, India has always been known for its rich history, sandy beaches and bustling nightlife. In 2014 alone, Goa boasted a total of more than four million visitors. However, those weren’t the only attractions that drew visitors to the country’s hotspot – the other one, gambling.

Goa is one of the three states in India that allows land-based casinos despite extremely strict Indian gambling laws on the industry. However, by the looks of it, gambling in Goa is going to get trickier as talks of toughening gambling rules begin to surface.

The Indian government had long faced the music of severe criticism claiming that casinos had ruined several Goan families by forcing them into debts. According to gambling news, authorities are now looking into toughening the rules on casinos in Goa to make accessibility to Goans – especially those below 21 years old – more difficult than before by enforcing stricter checks upon entry.

Unless they are employees of the casinos, anyone who is seeking to enter the casinos needs to obtain a permit authorized and issued by a gaming commisioner.

Stricter Regulations May Curb Gambling in Goa. But, What About Online Gambling?

While new regulations may keep more Goans out of land-based casinos, it is still questionable if it will get to the root of authorities’ concerns as there are other alternatives which have not been fully taken into consideration – online casinos.

As reported in our directory about gambling in India, there are no laws that are directed specifically against online gambling in India. Despite India’s strict gambling laws towards land-based gambling and efforts to restrict online gambling, there are still an abundance of online gambling sites available to Indian players.

Therefore, the question remains: While stricter regulations may curb gambling in Goa, how will it prevent Goans from turning to online casinos?