Goa raises casino entry age bar: Travellers under 21 can no longer enter gambling zones; what visitors need to know
Goa has raised the legal casino entry age to 21, requiring ID checks and affecting tourists.Summary
Goa, the only Indian state where commercial casinos are legal, has officially raised the minimum age for casino entry from the previously enforced 21 (via operator policies) to a government-mandated 21, aligning it with the legal drinking age. The new regulation requires casino operators to verify guests' ages with valid government-issued photo IDs, and anyone under 21 is prohibited from entering gambling zones, affecting both domestic and international tourists, including families with teenagers. While major operators like Deltin Royale, Deltin Jaqk, Big Daddy Casino, and Casino Pride already had similar internal policies, the rule now formalizes the restriction across all casinos in Goa, including floating casinos on the Mandovi River and onshore establishments. The move is part of broader efforts to regulate gaming tourism and promote responsible gambling in the state.
(Source：Times of India)