Panaji, July 1 (IANS) Goa Public Works Department Minister Churchill Alemao Wednesday said here that most casinos in the state are operated by a Nepali cartel, which fleeces patrons with a measly two percent pay out ratio.
“I have been playing in casinos in so many places since 1974. In Goa, casinos are run by Nepali operators who keep 98 percent of the money played and give out only two percent. They are cheating,” Alemao told reporters.

The pay out ratio is the percentage of money which the casino house pays out to the patrons on an average as compared to the money earned by the operator. The pay out ratio is generally governed by an internal software controlling the gambling equipment.

Criticising the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) recent demand for banning elected legislators and cabinet ministers from visiting casinos for moral reasons, Alemao said that casinos were essential for tourism in Goa.

“They say some ministers are corrupt… putting money in casinos. What nonsense. What morals are they talking about? In Malaysia more than 5,000 women play in the casinos everyday,” Alemao said.

Last week Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Subhash Shirodkar had criticised ministers of the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) alliance government for frequenting casinos.

The PWD minister, however, said that he would be seeking a conditional ban on Goans entering the casinos.

“Right now even people with a thousand rupees are entering these casinos. Entry limit should be raised to Rs.50,000 and entry should be by membership only. Only then there will be a proper check on youngsters and others who are now frequenting the casinos,” Alemao said.

Goa Tourism Minister Francisco alias Mickky Pacheco’s recent controversial escapade in a casino at the Majorda beach resort in South Goa had created a stir, with the casino’s CCTV footage broadcast on the local cable TV network showing Mickky pouring a couple of lakhs on the gambling table and then arguing with the staffers.

Mickky has also alleged that the casino had duped him of Rs.1.25 crore in winnings, while the casino management had alleged that the tourism minister owed them Rs.30 lakh and had threatened to kill the casino staff.