SHILLONG, Nov 9: The state cabinet passed the ordinance to repeal the Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming Act 2021 on Wednesday.
After the cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said there is no clarification on whether there will be any session as the mandate says any kind of ordinance that is passed must be brought to the Assembly.
“In the next sitting of the Assembly, after discussion with the Speaker, we will put it up whenever the next session is,” he added.
Succumbing to pressure from all quarters, the state government had in October announced repeal of the Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming Act, 2021.
The state government had, in March, issued licences to set up three casinos leading to widespread protests and agitations by various organisations including the Joint Action Committee Against Casino (JACAC), the Khasi Jaintia Christian Leaders Forum (KJCLF), the Meghalaya United Christian Forum and various pressure groups.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma had stated during last month’s Assembly session that the state government would re-examine the decision to open casinos in the state. He had asserted that no fresh licence would be issued and the three licences issued in March would expire on September 29. However, he had categorically refused to scrap the Gaming Act.
A few days later, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong had also ruled out the repeal of the Act, asserting that it was required to regulate gaming activities.
