The government of the Indian state of Maharashtra has responded to a PIL filed by a local gaming lawyer to discuss options regarding the buried Maharashtra Casinos Act.
Jay Sayta, who runs the website Glaws.in, said: “The Maharashtra government has informed me that a meeting of all relevant departments has been called for April 22 to discuss the options.
“The options include notifying the law and formulating rules, recommending its repeal or introducing some amendments to improve the law. The government has also shown an interest in studying the gaming laws of other jurisdictions before taking a decision and mentioned that allowing casinos would increase the footfall of foreign tourists and bring in revenues
“It has been a tough battle for me but I am happy that the government is taking this step based on my PIL.” Sayta had discovered an existing Maharashtra Casinos (Control and Tax) Act 1976, passed by the legislative assembly, had since been buried. The Act, if notified, will allow casinos to operate in the state on the payment of requisite licence fees and taxes.
Source: Asia Gaming Brief
