Goa cabinet today approved the extension of payment of annual recurring fees (ARF) by casinos. As first reported by Prudent Goa, the casinos can pay the recurring fees on monthly basis with 10 per cent extra.

Goa casinos which restarted in September last year after a long Covid19 break owe Rs. 359 crores in outstanding ARF to the state government. On October 5, the government had issued a notification stating the schedule of payment for unpaid ARF for May 2021 to September 2021 will be specified along with the payment schedule for April 2020 to October 2020.

According to the response placed before the assembly, the state currently has 15 offshore and onshore casinos. All the casinos had paid Rs. 24.85 crores for the financial year 2021-22 up to October 7. A new on-shore casino application under the name ‘The Crown’ by Vision Dempo Hospitality is currently under process.

Offshore casinos in Goa have been given an extension of twelve months recently to continue operating in the Mandovi river as the government is still identifying an alternative site for them.