Pondy CM rolls dice for South’s first casino, but with riders

Published: Sep 05,201907:45 AM by Hemamalini Venkatraman

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While the move could draw international high-rollers to these shores, locals won’t get a chance
to try their hands at leisure games

Chennai:
Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy is on a mission. His dream to aggressively promote
tourism has taken shape with south’s first onshore casino coming up off the backwaters of the
union territory.

Confirming this to DT Next, he said the decision to have an onshore model comes on the back of
easy clearance by the state as opposed to an offshore casino that requires the Centre’s nod.

The latest development comes after a three-year hiatus, when the CM expressed his desire to
bring a casino to the Union Territory. He was keen to replicate the Goa model to promote tourism
that included setting up theme parks, water sports and building an offshore casino. The project,
which was kept under wraps, envisages an investment of Rs 300 crore and includes a five-star
hotel, a source privy to the development, told DT Next.

However, the change to onshore casino is to avoid a possible stand-off with the Centre, given
that gambling (a state subject) has invited the wrath of activists and politicos alike, whenever
the subject is broached. Even the online gaming ecosystem is in its infancy in India. “The policy
has been formulated and we will have mini theatres and malls alongside to boost tourism. Also,
the casino will be open only to foreigners in possession of a passport and not the locals,”
Narayanasamy said.

The attempt to reposition Puducherry’s touristy image - from a cultural and spiritual hub to a
hotspot for high rollers has the local administration close to formally announcing a casino, that
would give a leg up to visitors to this part of the country. A promenade on the beach, a
walkway, boat rides through mangroves are some of the eco-tourism initiatives that the
territorial administration has proposed.

Narayanasamy also said the need for providing entertainment led to the casino being finalised
off the backwaters dotted with star hotels. The proposal had got cleared by the cabinet, he
added.

Until recently, the Pondicherry Gaming Act, 1965, expressly prohibited gambling activities of any
kind. It is also learnt that an international gaming expert is part of the blueprint coming alive so
that planning the necessary casino infrastructure is easy.

Several countries have shown an interest in setting up a casino in this union territory, which
upon the roll-out of the first gambling license would make Puducherry the only southern region
to boast of a casino. Goa, Daman and Diu, and Sikkim are currently the only locations, where
gambling and casino operations are legalised. Goa has six offshore casinos and eight onshore
casinos, which are restricted to resorts and are part of five and seven-star hotels. In July, Goa
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had said, “The government has decided to remove casinos out of
the Mandovi river, but no alternate feasible site had been finalised.”

Sawant had said the government was also considering amending rules under the Goa, Daman
and Diu Public Gambling Act, 1976. “Once the rules are finalised, the same would be notified,” he
said.
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 Puducherry Looking to Legalize Casinos; LG
Kiran Bedi & AIADMK Raise Objections

 3 Minutes Read
The government of Puducherry is working hard to legalize casinos in the Union
Territory to boost the tourism industry and increase state revenue. However,
Lieutenant Governor (LG) Kiran Bedi has raised objections to the proposal.
The Congress government had proposed to open casinos and breweries in
Puducherry. A news report published by The Times of India has stated that Chief
Minister V Narayanasamy, on December 27, said, “Puducherry is a tourist destination.
We will do all that’s required to attract tourists. There are casinos in Singapore,
Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, and in India, Nagaland, Goa, and Sikkim have casinos.
We will bring in regulations if you want.”
V Narayanasamy

Retired IPS officer and present LG Governor Bedi opposed the proposal stating that
the government should keep the ‘wolf of gambling’ away from a spiritual and pristine
Puducherry. Bedi, who was also BJP’s Chief Minister (CM) candidate for the 2015 Delhi
Assembly elections, further added that introducing casinos in the Union territory will
affect the quality of domestic and international tourists besides causing social
problems.
Kiran Bedi

Narayanasamy countered Bedi saying that the latter does not have the authority to
issue a verdict on the matter and claimed that Bedi is a woman without a conscience
as she is allegedly adopting a revengeful attitude against the elected government.

Addressing a press conference, he said the Territorial government, under his

leadership, had made rapid strides in several key sectors. He also referred to the
Department of Personnel and Administrative Affairs of the Central government which
had come out with an official report stating that among the Union Territories,
Puducherry has “notched the top rank in governance, public health, human resources
development sector and in the maintenance of law and order and security.”
According to the Chief Minister, “the legislative assembly will take a final decision on
whether casinos and breweries will be allowed in the state or not.”
But Bedi wasn’t the only political figure to object the proposal, as even the opposition
AIADMK on December 28 opposed the move of the territorial government to introduce
a casino under the garb of promoting tourism in Puducherry. AIADMK
legislator Vayyapuri Manikandan told reporters, “It is really mind-boggling that the
Chief Minister V Narayanasamy has pointed out in no uncertain terms at a press meet
on Friday that facilities like a casino would help government mop up revenue as
Puducherry is a tourist destination.”
“Can Puducherry afford to strike at the cultural basis of the people by casinos and
also letting liquor shops come up in large numbers and also yielding space to lottery
business?” he questioned.
The idea of setting up a casino industry in Puducherry was first floated in July 2016
when Narayanasamy had announced plans of launching an offshore casino and a
shipping channel to Chennai. The then Tourism and Health Minister Malladi Krishna
Rao had stated that a high-level delegation would visit Goa to study the system of
offshore casinos there. Back then, the BJP-led opposition party had condemned the
move saying it would encourage unhealthy practices of gambling and alcoholism in
the local youth.
Three years later, the Congress-led administration has come very close to realizing
its plans. However, this time Bedi and the AIADMK seem to be in the way.

Apart from casinos, the government is also looking to restart the sale of state
lotteries within and outside the Union Territory to augment revenues.

Whether the Congress-led government will be successful in its attempt to legalize

casinos remains to be seen.
Puducherry to legalize casinos after 3 years deliberations

Posted On 30 Dec, 2019 0

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The elected government headed by Chief Minister V Narayanasamy has made his mind and accepted
the decision to allow casinos in the state for the purpose of boosting state revenues. On 27
December, the CM stated, “Puducherry is a tourist destination. We will do all that’s required to
attract tourists. There are casinos in Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, and in India,
Nagaland, Goa, and Sikkim have casinos. We will bring in regulations if you want.”

However, the Lieutenant Governor (LG) Kiran Bedi differed in opinion, raising objection saying that
the “wolf of gambling” should be away from a spiritual and pristine Puducherry. She also added that
casinos in the region will affect domestic life and international tourists which will lead to social
problems.
The CM further defied that Bedi does not have any authority to decide whether the casinos will be
allowed in the territory and that Bedi is working with a revengeful attitude towards the elected
government. Narayanasamy added that the plan will be beneficial as Puducherry is in severe need of
funds and allowing lotteries, casinos, and breweries will improve the situation of the state. He
further added that the Union Territory has been placed in the top ranks in governance, public health,
human resources development, law and order, and security.

However, Narayanasamy was on his mission since 2016, aggressively trying to promote tourism. He
was open to allowing offshore casinos in the region, on the lines of Goa. Back then the BJP led
opposition contradicted towards the move, stating that it would encourage unhealthy practices of
gambling and alcoholism in the local youngsters.

The State Health and Tourism Minister Malladi Krishna Rao also said that the cabinet is looking
forward to permitting casinos in Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe, and Yanam. The government officials
from Puducherry also proposed an official tour to Goa to evaluate the model of allowing casinos. For
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https://www.dtnext.in/News/TopNews/2019/09/05022857/1175352/Pondy-CM-rolls-dice-for-Souths-first-
casino-but-with-.vpf

https://glaws.in/2016/07/08/puducherry-cm-plans-to-allow-offshore-casinos/

https://www.gutshotmagazine.com/news/details/puducherry-to-legalize-casinos-after-3-years-
deliberations

https://www.deccanherald.com/national/south/kiran-bedi-seeks-centres-opinion-to-introduce-casino-
in-pondy-807374.html