SHILLONG/NEW DELHI, May 18: Pressure is mounting on the state government to shelve its idea of making Meghalaya a gambling hub.
Political parties, church leaders and pressure groups have expressed their opposition to the move.
BJP state president, Ernest Mawrie said the party does not endorse the government’s intent to allow the setting up of casinos.
He said when Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma had discussed the idea of regulating gambling during the recent MDA coordination committee meeting, it was made clear that the BJP is against the setting up of any casinos in the state.
“We asked the Chief Minister to call back this thought,” Mawrie said.
He said some online games like Jackpot, played in the Police Bazar area earlier, should also be regulated.
The All India Trinamool Congress also opposed the government’s proposal. The party asked the government to cancel its agreement with the firm assigned to implement gambling in the state.
The government recently came out with the Meghalaya Gaming Act, 2021. It maintained that the activities will be allowed only for people from outside the state and for which, it will issue licences to operate games of skill and chance – online as well as offline.
The group of ministers (GoM) under the Chairmanship of Conrad Sangma tasked to review the GST levy on casinos, racecourses and online gaming has finalised its report.
The report will be submitted to the Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, in a day or two and will be taken up in the next GST Council meeting.
The existing tax rate on racecourses and online gaming is 18 per cent.
The GOM had, in its previous meeting earlier this month, unanimously decided on hiking the tax rate on these services to 28 per cent. The GOM met on Wednesday and finalised the method of valuing these services for the purpose of levying this tax.
“The Group of Ministers (GoM) on casinos, racecourses & online gaming has come to a consensus. The report of our submissions will be handed over to Hon’ble FM, Smti. @nsitharaman Ji in a day or two & the matter will be presented in the next @GST_Council Meeting,” Sangma tweeted.
The government had in May last year set up a panel of state ministers for better valuation of services of casinos, online gaming portal and racecourses for levying Goods and Services Tax (GST).
