Panaji: The Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (GSCPCR) has directed state govt to immediately prohibit the entry of children below 18 years into offshore casino vessels and casino premises, and to take strict action against operators violating the law.In a letter to the home department on Tuesday, the commission asked govt to suspend or cancel the licences of casinos found allowing minors entry. It also directed the department to issue instructions to all offshore casino operators and licensed casinos to enforce the ban, verify the age of visitors through valid govt-issued documents, and prominently display signboards stating that entry of children below 18 years is prohibited.The GSCPCR also called for regular inspections by the police and licensing authorities to ensure compliance and asked the home department to submit an action taken report within one month.The commission said it was acting under the Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005, noting that “exposing children to gambling environments is contrary to child protection principles and could adversely affect their physical, mental and moral development”. It also cited the Goa Children’s Act, 2003, which makes inducing a child to gamble or assist in the gambling trade a punishable offence.Goa currently has dozens of onshore casinos and six offshore casino vessels.Last month, state amended the Goa Public Gambling Act, 1976, to prohibit anyone below 21 years from entering gambling areas in onshore and offshore casinos. In 2019, govt appointed the commissioner of commercial taxes as gaming commissioner, though the post’s functions were never defined as the rules were not framed.
