Shillong, May 13: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Thursday maintained that the Meghalaya Regulation Gaming Act, 2021 will regulate existing gaming parlours to ensure they pay tax to the government.

Sangma told reporters that there are different kinds of gaming parlours including jackpot parlours and they have been there in Shillong and other parts of the state for the past 25 years.

Stating such gaming parlours have been functioning without any rules and are not paying any tax to the government, he said, “That is the reason why this particular gaming act has been brought in to regulate these existing gaming parlours and jackpot parlours so that they come within the law and more importantly they pay taxes.”

He also made it clear that “this is not being done to start new casinos or new gaming parlours within the Shillong city.”

Sangma further assured that implementation of the Act will not lead to setting up of casinos anywhere in the state capital or major tourist destinations or major towns. “If we move forward after we discuss in detail with stakeholders and with the government in the cabinet – it will be in specific locations which will be more towards the border in Assam and will be in areas where we feel that they could be a source of revenue for the state without actually harming the state, in terms of the social impact that may have,” he asserted.