CM not aware of appointment of Chairman of Gaming Commission

Shillong, May 12: Chief Minister Conrad  Sangma said he is not aware of the appointment of chairman of Gaming Commission.

When a reporter asked about the matter on Thursday, the chief minister said, ” I am not aware of this”.

Earlier, the HYC had met the deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong and urged him to  cancel the appointment of the chairman of the commission, retired Judge of Allahabad High Court, Justice Naveen Srivastava.

HITO had also raised a similar demand.

The appointment was effected by taxation department.

Speaking to reporters, Conrad said the Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming Act, 2021 will regulate existing gaming parlours so that they can pay tax to the government.

Conrad said there are different kinds of gaming parlours including jackpot parlours which have been in Shillong and other parts of the state for the past 25 years without any rules and are not paying any tax to the government.

“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 said this is not being done to start new casinos or new gaming parlours within the city.

He 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 said.