Casino licences to lapse by month-end: Conrad

SHILLONG, Sep 16: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma informed the House on Friday that the three provisional licences issued for operating casinos in the state will lapse on September 29. Replying to a zero hour notice moved by Nongkrem MLA Lambor Malngiang, Sangma said the licences were issued on March 29 this year and they are valid for six months. He said the government wanted to regulate the different kinds of gambling activities taking place in the state. He said in the absence of rules, local boys and girls can play in gaming zone even as he added that the government through the move wanted to bring in more revenue to the state. Disclosing that eight persons had applied for the licence, he said no voice was raised against the matter and three provisional licences were issued. He said church leaders met him in March to express their concerns and the NGOs met him in September. He said the government had no intention to introduce casinos in Shillong. Earlier, while moving the zero hour notice, Malngiang called for the repeal of the Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming Act and the cancellation of the provisional licences. Sangma said after hearing the concerns of the Church, he had told them that no further provisional licences will be issued.