The saga over to gamble or not to gamble refuses to end, with the Khasi Jaiñtia Christian Leaders Forum (KJCLF) not backing down from its demand for the repeal of the Regulation of Gaming Act 2021.
In a release today, the KJCLF said that it had written to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today wherein it appreciated his “readiness and willingness to listen to the voices of the people, including groups and church leaders, as has been consistently portrayed and conveyed on many occasions.”
The state government may have caved in to public pressure to freeze the introduction of casinos to Meghalaya but the government is not willing to entertain the suggestion that the act that paved the way for casinos in the first place should be scrapped.
On Monday, Sangma said that there had been a lot of misconceptions about the legislation, which, he said, is required to bring in some controls of gambling and betting activities that were hitherto unregulated. Under the act, gaming and jackpot parlours that otherwise operate without licences would be brought under the act, which would prescribe rules for such establishments and earn the government revenue from taxing them.
The forum wants a “firm assurance” that the “casino gambling industry” will be closed and the Gaming Act repealed.
