Temporary license granted to casinos in Meghalaya.

Taxation Minister James PK. Sangma on September 22, said that the Meghalaya Government has granted temporary license to three firms for operating on-premises casinos to promote niche tourism in the state.

Replying to a calling attention motion moved by the Trinamool Congress, the minister said that Harsh competition in the tourism sector in the Northeast promoted the Government to start the casinos.

Sangma said, "We had to find an unprecedented atypical solution to attract tourists, other than leisure or low budget tourists, by offering them niche tourism."

He further added that the other states of the Northeastern region are giving hard competition to Meghalaya tourism sector as they have similar kind of topography. Some of them even have better attractions in terms of historical, Archeological and architectural marvels.

Moreover, Sangma gave an insight into the history of betting games in Meghalaya. He said, "Betting on bullfights, though banned and cockfights and dice games is actively played in remote areas of our state."

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