The Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat has said that despite raising the entry fee of the casinos from Rs 200 to Rs 2,000 the revenue collection from the same has gone up considerably in the current financial year. The government had raised the entry fee in the casinos in the budget for the year 2009-10 in an attempt to prevent people (particularly the locals) from gambling.
Mr Kamat told The Navhind Times that he has received representations from various casino operators stating that the increase in the entry was affecting their business and that it be reduced. He said that he has not given any thought to the request so far and would decide on the issue while finalising the budget. He said the increase in entry fee was done to serve as a preventive measure to keep away people from gambling.
The sources in the state finance department also said that there was a fair increase in revenue collection from entry fees of casinos but went on to add that some other taxes have been affected as the volume of visitors to casinos has gone down in view of increased fees. They indicated that in view of this the government might consider giving some sops to the casino operators.
The sources further said the casinos operators would buy 10-12 books of entry fees from the commercial tax department earlier (when the fee was Rs 200 per person) at regular intervals but after the increase to Rs 2,000 they buy 3-4 books. They went on to add that when the fee was Rs 200 the casino operators used to give the entry tickets as complimentary but have stopped the practice following increase of entry fee.
Despite repeated attempts the commercial tax department officials could not be contacted for getting the actual increase in the revenue collection by way of entry tickets to the casinos.
0 Comments: on "Revenue generated by casino entry fees has gone up: CM"
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.