Haryana Latest Player In North Indian Casino Race

Jyoti Koul - New Delhi

After Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, Haryana is now the latest state to toy with the idea of opening casinos. The objective is to create niche tourism products since the state has very little to offer in terms of nature. Development of casinos is expected to not only attract investment but also promote tourism of the state. The state Assembly has given the go-ahead. Following the setting up of casinos in the state, many hotels, restaurants and villas are expected to tap clientele from non-gaming areas of the Middle and Far East. "The government, to start with, plans a mega entertainment resort close to Gurgaon, where the central attraction would be casinos,” said an official from Haryana Tourism.

According to the official, currently the file and paper work was on. "It will take a minimum of three years for the casinos to be fully operational because it is just not the tourism department of Haryana which is involved in the decision. There are other departments whose permission is required to run licensed casinos in the state. An important role has to be essayed by the excise department, which will activate the proposal. However, the implementing authority of this proposal will be Haryana Tourism."