PANAJI: The State government has decided to ban Goans from entering casinos from February 1 onwards. The Commissioner of Commercial Taxes will be appointed as the Gaming Commissioner. Speaking to media persons at his official residence in Altinho, Panaji, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said, “We have decided to ban entry of Goans into the casinos from February 1. Notification to this effect will be issued in a day or two.” The Chief Minister has however clarified that Goans who want to go to casinos to play will be banned from entering the casinos and not the ones who go to casinos for employment. The appointment of gaming commissioner to regulate the casino industry is a long pending issue which has been going on since 2011. Speaking earlier on the sidelines of a function in Panaji, Sawant said, “Last time I had promised in the Assembly that we would ban Goans from entering casinos. The file has already been moved. The Commissioner of Commercial Taxes would be appointed as the Gaming Commissioner. Once he is appointed, Goans would be banned automatically from entering casinos. From February 1 onwards, Goans would be banned from entering casinos.” The Chief Minister informed that the Gaming Commissioner will have powers to visit the casinos anytime. “The gaming commissioner would be given powers to visit the casinos anytime and inspect and also ask people for their identity if he suspects any person to be a Goan,” said Sawant. “The rules and regulations will be framed to avoid a Goan from completely entering the casinos. The notification in this regard would be published within a day or two,” Sawant informed.