Shillong:
Chief minister Conrad Sangma convened a meeting with the group of ministers (GoM) set up by the Union Ministry of Finance to look into matters related to the goods and services tax (GST) regime covering casinos, race courses and online gaming, in Delhi, on May 2.
The eight-member committee, of which the chief minister is the convenor, will examine whether any change is required in the legal provisions to adopt any better means of valuation of these services under the GST regime.
“We have been able to move forward to a large extent on issues related to rates, issues related to valuation on which the rate should be applied and certain issues of online gaming were discussed in detail. Few more technical aspects need to be discussed,” the chief minister told the press, post the meeting.
Notably, the next meeting is scheduled to be held on the 2nd week of May.
The Meghalaya government has been mulling over legalising gambling, online gaming and setting up casinos in the state. Earlier on April 21, Taxation minister James Sangma had said that the state is blessed with natural beauty and is a tourists’ hub, and if synchronised with gaming, the state can earn adequate revenue from it. He had further added along with surplus revenue, by legalising gaming, the government will also be able to generate employment opportunities. However, gaming will only be allowed for tourists and not residents, he had said.
The members of the GoM are Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, West Bengal finance minister Chandrima Bhattacharya, Gujarat finance minister Kanubhai Patel, Goa minister for Panchayat Raj Mauvin Godinho, Tamil Nadu finance minister Palanivel Thiaga Ragan, Uttar Pradesh finance minister Suresh Kumar Khanna and Telangana finance minister Thanneeru Harish Rao.
Last year, the chief minister had led the GoM to study GST rates on Covid-related materials.