SHILLONG, May 20: Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma on Friday said the Meghalaya State Gaming Act is required to regulate the existing jackpot and online gaming parlours in Shillong.
Political parties, church leaders and pressure groups have expressed their opposition to the Act but the CM said if it is repealed, then there will be nothing to regulate and the government will also lose revenue of around Rs 7-8 crore.
He said the jackpot and online gaming parlours existed for a long time and there was a need to regulate them. Stating that they were not paying taxes, he said there is no question of having new parlours.
The CM said the government needs to balance impact on the society and revenue generation.
He said if the state can increase its revenue by ensuring certain zones are away from the city and other major towns and closer to Guwahati, the state can get revenues worth hundreds of crores of rupees.
“We are examining these aspects and I can assure that we have no intention of coming up with casinos in and around Shillong and other major areas or any other place with a large population,” he added.
