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Goa increases casino license fees by 200%
Goa’s chief minister, Pramod Sawant, has announced that gambling licensing fees for new casino operators will increase by 200%, with additional fee raises for annual license rates, application costs, and transfer fees.
The state’s 2026-27 budget was presented to the Legislative Assembly on March 6, 2026, as Sawant clarified that the fee applies only to land-based casinos.
Sawant stated:
“The fee for setting up new casinos in the state will be increased by 200% over the current existing fee in this financial year. No new offshore casino would be allowed. The number of offshore casinos is fixed at six. The fee increase is only for those who apply to set up new onshore casinos in the state.”
According to the chief minister, the budget supports the goals of “Viksit Goa 2037”, which is a broad strategy for economic growth that includes infrastructure, education, healthcare, and sustainable development. Through the changes, Sawant is looking to create better supervision of gambling activities both at sea and on land without limiting casino revenues.
Currently, there are 13 casinos in Goa, of which seven are land-based, and six are on ships anchored on the Mandovi River in Panaji.
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