At least four casinos in India’s smallest state, Goa, have closed because they did not pay annual license renewal fees to the government.
“The number of casinos—on shore and offshore—is dropping drastically,” said Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar after a recent cabinet meeting. “From the double-digit, they must have come down to single-digit.”
Among the shuttered gaming halls is the Intercontinental Grand Resort Goa, which did not renew its license after it expired this year, he said. An offshore casino owned by Golden Globe Hotels has also not paid its annual fee.
The licenses are granted to casinos for five-year terms, according to the Indian Times.
One hotel is still licensed but has informed the state government it has suspended its gaming operations. Another hotel has sought permission to pay the fee in installments, the chief minister said.
The state government allows quarterly payment of fees for casinos, provided they pay 12 percent interest on the delayed payment, Parrikar told the Express.
