Exploring the Growing Popularity of Casinos Among Indian Tourists
By Peter Schlegel
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Overview of the Growing Popularity of Casinos Among Indian Tourists
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An Exploration of Gambling in India
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The Pros and Cons of Casino Tourism in India
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What You Need to Know About Gambling Regulations in India
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How to Find the Best Casinos for Indian Tourists
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Tips for Enjoying a Safe and Fun Casino Experience While Traveling Abroad
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Examples of Successful Casino Tourism Experiences by Indian Tourists
Overview of the Growing Popularity of Casinos Among Indian Tourists
India’s wealthy are now enticed to the glamorous gaming tables of Macau and the dazzling towers of Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands casino for a new kind of experience.
Indians are widely visible at play online casino in India tables throughout Macau and Singapore. Viren Mehra, a 35-year old investment banker from Mumbai, perches on the edge of a green baize table with bated breath as he watches the Chinese croupier deal out cards in front of him. He doesn’t flinch amid the grandeur that is The Venetian Macao; an awe-inspiring $2.2 billion complex covering 10 football fields and embellished to perfection with ornate chandeliers.
An Exploration of Gambling in India
Mehra is an Indian person who visits Macau 6 or 7 times a year. He takes a 45 minute ferry ride from Hong Kong to get there. He meets with people who have lots of money and talks about business deals worth millions of dollars. People at the table smoke cigarettes, but hostesses bring drinks like orange juice and water around in carts. The air conditioner tries to make the room fresh, but it is hard because of all the smoke and noise from people being excited!
The venue is either the gaming floor at The Venetian or at the Macau Golf and Country Club. Mehra’s five-year gambling record: wagers of Rs 50 lakh at the tables, wins of Rs 45 lakh. Net loss: Rs 5 lakh. His favourite game? “Poker. Because it’s all about thinking fast, having a head for numbers and keeping nerves of steel. Exactly what I need in my line of work.”
The Pros and Cons of Casino Tourism in India
In September 2011, people from all over the world went to a special festival on a big casino ship in Goa. Mehra was there too. He was part of a group of wealthy Indians who like going on adventures and trying to get lucky. Most of them were men with lots of money who wanted to take risks and see how much luck they could have!
A large number of Sikh businessmen from Chandigarh, who experiment with beer and whisky on planes, meet up with entrepreneurs from the Hindi heartland that can’t wait to tinker around with entertainment settings even before take-off. Rakesh Kumar (name changed), a commodities trader based in Indore and regular traveler spends an average of 10K every time he visits Singapore’s casino – “Asia’s safest gambling destinations”. According to him there are no illicit activities in these parts; making them not only safe but also prim.
What You Need to Know About Gambling Regulations in India
Kumar’s luck has been fleeting during his ten trips to Singapore, as he frequently sees citizens boarding the same flight for one reason: gambling. However, each journey brings him hope that this time will be his lucky day.
How to Find the Best Casinos for Indian Tourists
Indian gamblers are no longer satisfied with destinations such as Goa and Sikkim, they have started to flock to Macau. In 2015 alone, 1.69 lakh Indians had visited the area – making up the majority of tourists aside from Chinese visitors.
At 34 casinos across Macau you will find an increasing number of Indians at tables placing bets worth HK $1,000 or even one peti (Rs 1 lakh) on a single round of baccarat,” according to Pawan Bagri, 35-year old Kolkata-based stockbroker. With this clear indication that gambling has become popular among Indian citizens worldwide it is time for companies in India to capitalize by offering gaming experiences like those found abroad!
Tips for Enjoying a Safe and Fun Casino Experience While Travelling Abroad
Singapore Tourism Board (STB) views Indians as the most significant spenders in their city, and they are also some of the biggest players at Singapore’s two massive casinos.
This year, casinos are expected to make a lot of money – $6.5 billion! That number may jump to $8 billion by 2024. People from India, China, Australia and Indonesia visit these places and help make them very successful.
Recently, Sri Lanka has made progress in the gambling sector due to a huge influx of Indian tourists. Nalaka Godage (Chairman of the Sri Lankan Tourist Board) optimistically described his hopes for an economic revival driven by more tourism from India: “We really want to concentrate on entertainment”. Hence, this previously taboo industry is now being embraced as a means to thrive and experience growth.
Examples of Successful Casino Tourism Experiences by Indian Tourists
In India, the only two states in which wagering is formally permitted are Goa and Sikkim. The Public Gambling Act of 1867 makes it illegal to gamble and if you are caught, you can be fined a lot of money or go to prison for one year. But people still gamble illegally and make a lot of money – about $60 billion each year! That’s why some people from other countries want to come here and make money from gambling.
For years, Kathmandu was the prime spot for gamblers – until eight of its casinos were threatened with shutdown due to unpaid taxes. Nowadays, Indian players have a selection between Macau and Singapore’s shining casino tables; Macau having an annual turnover of $15 billion which is fourfold that of Las Vegas!, or the exquisite Marina Bay Sands Casino at dizzying towers in Singapore.
If you’re based in either Delhi or Mumbai, a direct flight to Macau is at your fingertips! Round-trip tickets are exceptionally convenient and won’t break the bank – costing no more than Rs 23,000 according to Jinal Shah of Zenith Holidays. That’s less expensive than traveling between Delhi and Port Blair!
