Launching a scathing attack against the Pramod Sawant-led BJP government for lack of transparency and accountability surrounding casinos, Goa TMC Joint Convenors Mariano Rodrigues and Samil Volvaiker, along with AITC National Spokesperson Trajano DMello, demanded the immediate appointment of a Gaming Commission to address the pressing issues plaguing the industry during a press conference at the party office.
Questioning the real intentions of the BJP-led Goa government, Samil Volvaiker said, ‘I oppose the recent statement made by Minister Mauvin Godinho, expressing his intent to speak with the central Finance Minister to reduce the 28% tax on casinos, as it raises serious concerns about the priorities and intentions of the BJP government. If the government truly desires to reduce taxes, it should focus on reducing the tax levied on goods and services that directly impact the lives of the common people.’ He further added, ‘It is evident that casinos primarily cater to the rich and not the marginalized sections of society. On one hand, the government emphasizes the need for revenue generation, but is reluctant to capitalize on the potential increase in revenue resulting from the higher tax rate on casinos.’
Highlighting the double standards of the BJP government in taxation and injustice towards Goan businesses, Trajano D’Mello asserted, ‘When taxes were levied on essential drugs meant for seriously ill patients, there was little opposition from the BJP Minister. However, when the question of taxing casinos arises, he is ready to write to the Centre.’ He further added, ‘The delayed payment of farmers’ price support and mid-day meal and the recent closure of shacks due to the absence of a No Objection Certificate (NOC) have severely impacted the livelihoods of Goans. The shack owners rely on their shacks as a means of earning their daily bread and supporting their families. The sudden closure has left them without a source of income.’
Holding the Pramod Sawant-led BJP government responsible for favoring the casino industry, D’Mello said, The heart of the BJP government is in the casinos floating in the Mandovi river. This government is for the casinos and by the casinos The absence of a Gaming Commission means there is no centralized data available on the number of visitors to the casinos, which hampers efforts to assess the socio-economic impact of the industry. It raises concerns about the influx of non-tax-paying individuals.’ He emphasized, ‘Lack of a regulatory body has created an environment of unchecked operations, leading to potential tax evasion, unaccounted winnings, and an overall lack of understanding about the flow of money in and out of these casinos.’
Speaking on similar lines, he continued, ‘The lack of government-controlled entry procedures to the casinos is worrisome. By not requiring individuals to provide identification, such as their Permanent Account Number (PAN), the government misses out on valuable data that could shed light on the number of non-taxpayers who frequent casinos but fail to file tax returns.’
Reiterating the party’s demands, D’Mello said, ‘TMC demands the immediate appointment of the Gaming Commission to ensure fair taxation of casinos. We will not shrug off our responsibility; we will take a legal opinion on the matter and continue working on it.’
