The landlocked Indian mountain state of Sikkim has launched a foreigners-only casino in a bid to boost tourism.
With an annual increase of 20 percent in tourist arrivals in recent years, Sikkim is the only state in the country offering land based live casino facilities to tourists. Goa’s gaming is currently limited to a casino ship and a small number of gaming machines in luxury hotels.
The first casino was opened at the Royal Plaza hotel and was named ‘Casino Sikkim’.
Naresh Subba, Chief Executive Officer of Casino Sikkim, said the State Government’s assistance had made it possible to open the casino in the state.
“The Sikkim Government has trusted us and have given me the responsibility to come up with the casino and then to attract the tourists,” says Mr Subba.
Besides boosting the economy of the region through tourism, the opening of casino is also creating employment opportunities, says the government.
