Cannot compel casinos to go cashless: Parrikar

Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday said the Goa government could not compel the state's casino industry to go cashless.

He said cashless/digital payment initiatives were "promotional activities" and hence could not be enforced by the state government.

"I think cash transactions do not come under state government powers. It is the central government... cashless is a promotional activity; digital payment is a promotion activity," Parrikar said at a press conference here.

The presser was organised by the state Bharatiya Janata Party to observe 'Anti-Black Money Day' on the first anniversary of the demonetisation move.

"I'll prefer everything to operate in a cashless way. Even roadside stalls -- if they sell articles for Rs 5 in a cashless way, it is good. If more transactions are recorded, the government will get good revenue and taxation levels will come down."

Goa has five offshore casinos and more than half a dozen onshore casinos in many of the five-star resorts in the coastal regions.

--IANS

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