Ban entry of minors to casinos, Goa child rights body tells state government

The Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has urged the state government to prohibit minors from entering casinos on the Indian coastal state of Goa. The child rights body issued a directive on July 30, emphasizing that exposing children to gambling environments contravenes child protection principles and can negatively impact their development.

The commission highlighted the Goa Children's Act of 2003, which mandates the state to shield children from exploitation and specifies that inducing a child to gamble or assist in the gambling trade is a punishable offense. The commission emphasized enforcing mandatory age verification at all entry points using valid government-issued identification.

It also instructed the police and relevant authorities to conduct routine inspections to ensure compliance. The commission threatened to suspend or revoke casino licenses for operators found permitting minors to enter in violation of the law. Goa boasts six offshore casinos in the Mandovi River area of Panaji and 16 onshore casinos, which contributed over Rs 1,700 crore in revenue to the state over the past five years.

The Goa Public Gambling Act of 1976 prohibits persons below 21 years from entering offshore casino vessels or licensed premises with electronic amusements/slot machines in five-star hotels or vessels. The state government recently amended the definition, specifying that no person below 21 is allowed entry into designated areas within five-star hotels or vessels where gaming activities occur.