Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: In relaxation to casino industry towards their annual recurring fee, the State cabinet granted nod to allow casino operators to make payments in monthly instalments but with a 10 per cent additional charge.
“We have given relaxation to the Casino industry towards their annual recurring fee, we granted nod to allow casino operators to make payment in monthly instalment but with 10 per cent additional charge,” said CM Sawant.
Bearing the current financial situation in mind, Goa’s Home Department has issued a notification allowing the casinos to pay annual recurring fees for the financial year 2020-2021 on a monthly pro-rata basis.
The state government also specified that the annual fee schedule payment for the lockdown period between April 2020 to October 2020 would be notified by an order in the official gazette.
In the face of the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, most industries have been hit, including the casino industry. With casinos remaining closed for over seven months, it is understandable that another fee hike by the government would have been draconian.