Casino nod in Sikkim

Gangtok: Sikkim is ready to give Nepal a run for its money, literally.

The hill state has legalised casinos and tour operators feel that it is time Kathmandu, which so long had been the domestic tourists’ Las Vegas, moved on.

The notification, Sikkim Casino Games (Control and Tax) Rules, 2007, which came into effect yesterday has already created a ripple in the hospitality industry.

This, despite the fact, that for the moment the casinos will be kept confined to hotels having infrastructure and facilities of five-star standard and with the capacity to establish and operate the games. Though the notice reads that the licence fee will be only Rs 5,000, it should be accompanied by no-objection certificates from the health, energy, power and fire services departments.

Currently, only Royal Plaza at Shayari here conforms to five-star standards, required by the act. A facility of the Park Sarovar Plaza group, the hotel is promoted by Teesta Rangit, a firm belonging to M.K. Subba, the Congress MP from Tezpur in Assam.

An executive of Royal Plaza today told The Telegraph: “It is too early to say what we will do. The notification was made public only yesterday. For the moment we are keeping our fingers crossed.”

With the state government already inviting interested people to set up shop, speculation is rife as to who will take the first plunge.

Whoever it is, tour operators are hopeful that with other five-star facilities coming up — the one to be set up by the Royal Orchid Group headed by Vivian Reddy, a South African businessman, in Pangthang deserves special mention — it is going to rain moneybags in the state.

Tourism minister R.B. Subba said: “We are targetting high-end tourists (that is why the confinement to five-star hotels). It is going to be something on the lines of Kathmandu and Goa.”

Reddy, it is learnt, has already won the bid for his resort— a 400-bed establishment with health spas — the construction of which is yet to start.

Sources said another businessman who might set up a casino is T. Lachungpa, an AICC member. Lachungpa has planned a five-star hotel with shopping arcades at Sichey, a suburb here along the Indira Bypass. The Congress leader is eyeing tourists who will troop in for a view of Nathu-la, the border pass at 14,400ft.

The notification also makes it clear that authorised government officials will have the power of inspecting the premises without any search warrant before a certificate of registration is issued.

Entry or employment of people under 18 years of age has also been banned for casino-based enterprises. Licence forms will be available with the state tourism department.

Source: The Telegraph