Prospective investors in Goa’s casino sector have been hit with a 200% increase in licensing fees.
The province, which hosts India’s only regulated casino market, announced the changes as part of the 2026 budget, alongside hikes in annual licence rates, application costs and transfer fees.
However, Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister of Goa, confirmed to local reporters that the change will only apply to prospective onshore operators.
He said: “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.”
The offshore sector consists of six ships that are anchored in the Mandovi River. Meanwhile, the onshore market hosts over a dozen operators.
Each current onshore operator is charged a licensing fee based on the size of its gaming floor, which ranges between INR 11m (£88, 940) and INR 44m (£355,762). However, this figure will be much greater for a new licensee seeking expansion in the region.
Over the last five years, Goa’s government has raked in INR 16.6bn (£134.3m) in fees over the last five years from the gambling market.
The decision to hike the fees forms part of a wider ‘Viksit Goa 2037’ strategy, according to Sawat, which seeks to boost economic growth through changes to infrastructure, education and healthcare, among others.
India advances online gaming ban oversight
While some regions of India are looking to gambling as a means to boost state income, the federal government is continuing with its commitment to enforce a nationwide ban on online real money games (RMG).
In August, India’s lawmakers passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gambling Bill 2025, which banned the promotion of RMG due to the perceived negative societal impacts.
As part of the ruling, the Online Gaming Authority of India, under the Electronics and IT Ministry (MeitY), has been tasked with leading the new era for gaming in the country.
Under the terms of the draft bill provided by the Online Gaming Authority of India, those found to be offering online money games will face punishments of up to three years in prison, a fine of up to 10 million rupees (£83,743) or both. There are similar punishments laid out for advertising RMG or facilitating transactions related to the sector.
In reaction to the decision, Google has confirmed that it has banned all advertisements for rummy and daily fantasy sports targeting players in India.
