Goa to Target Unauthorized Ads Promoting Sri Lankan Online Casinos

The government of Goa has committed to taking action against unauthorized advertisements for Sri Lankan casinos promoting online gaming in the coastal state.

During a legislative assembly session on Tuesday, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant assured that the state will remove all such illegal hoardings, as reported by the Indo-Asian News Service.

The issue was brought up by Goa Forward Party MLA Viaji Sardesai, who pointed out that despite his previous complaint to the Home Department, no action had been taken against these advertisements. He claimed these ads violate the Goa Daman and Diu Gambling Act. Sardesai questioned the allowance of these advertisements, arguing that online gaming is illegal and not permitted under the GST Council’s rules.

In response, CM Sawant confirmed that a case has been registered at the Porvorim police station concerning the unauthorized casino advertisements. He stated that the state is seeking legal advice and will register more cases to address such violations. “Hoardings of those having casinos in Sri Lanka and trying to operate online gaming from here will not be allowed. The state is not earning any revenue out of it. Our advertising policy is not finalized, and they are taking benefit of it. But I can assure you that we will pull down the hoardings or raze them,” Sawant told the legislative assembly.

This initiative is part of Goa’s broader efforts to regulate gambling activities and ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations. Recently, the state has agreed to amend the local Goods and Services Tax (GST) Act to clarify the taxability of various forms of gambling. The currently valid law, an amendment to the original 2017 GST Act, only came into force in October of last year. The new bill aims to clarify how gambling activities—including horse racing, casinos, and betting—are taxed.

By fLEXI tEAM