By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Many bookies of traditional archery in the state are alleged of running their business without a valid license thereby affecting the revenue of the government. Bookies of Teer (traditional archery) have alleged that there are many bookies in the state as well as the neighbouring states who have been illegally running their business without possessing a valid license.
“This illegal running of business by unscrupulous bookies have cost the State government a great deal of revenue,” M Jyrwa, general secretary Khasi Hills Archery Sport Institute (KHASI) told reporters here on Wednesday.
He informed that this State’s legal betting sport which is very popular among the people generates over crores of rupees but it was informed that last year, the total revenue collected during the preceding year was only Rs 37 lakh.
“We believe that revenue generated by this traditional form of gambling would run into crores,” the general secretary said.
The bookies under the aegis of different organisations like KHASI, Meghalaya Thoh Team Welfare Association (MATTWA), Meghalaya Book Makers Welfare Union (MBMWU) and Khasi Hills Bookie Welfare Association (KHBWA) informed that there are around 1700-1800 licensed bookies in the capital city who generate revenue for the State government. But there are also a large number of bookies within the State and also outside the State who do not possess license for running this business.