Gambling is considered an illegal activity but is happening openly across all over Goa

Gambling has many forms, it starts with very basic Satta matka and goes up to sophisticated spinning a roulette. It all depends on how much one can bet and that decides which gambling activities to get involved with. Amongst all the form of gambling, the Satta and Matka is one of the most notorious and conferred to be an illegal activity by the law enforcement agencies.

There is a ban on the Matka in the state just like Gutka which is sold and consumed all over, similarly, the gambling activity of Matka is banned in Goa but there are places across the state wherein people play Matka day in day out.

It is impossible that law and enforcement agencies are not aware of the illegal activities taking place around the state, but it seems like they are not bothered to stop due to various reasons.

Gambling of any kind is not encouraged in India, but Goans differ this statement saying that Matka should be legalised.

One such video of gambling activity taking place in open went viral on the social media a few days ago and in the video, it is clearly seen that the shops in the Betim area of Panaji are busy in taking matka bets that too in open broad daylight.

Gambling of any kind is not encouraged in India, but Goans differ this statement saying that Matka should be legalised.

Matka which is illegal in India as well as in Goa is a form of gambling just like satta is a form of lottery which originally involved betting on the opening and closing rates of cotton. Originating from before the era of Indian independence when it was known as Ankada Jugar (“figures gambling”).

People in Goa – men and women, young and old – play ‘matka’ in the state. Although some politicians claim that there are no matka bookies in the state, it is well-known but still a hidden fact that matka trade has its tentacles here. Many stalls and corners of the Goan streets are outer-layers of what lies beneath them, is bookies for matka.

Even though there is a huge amount of money involved and stalls set-up secretly for the same, the politicians have turned a blind eye for this. According to Herald Goa(2015), The matka business in Goa has the blessings of the politicians and the police; it has a daily turnover of about Rs 15-20 crore and a net income of Rs 5 crore; 60,000 matka bookies and 90 agents run the trade

Although some politicians claim that there are no matka bookies in the state, it is well-known but still a hidden fact that matka trade has its tentacles here. Many stalls and corners of the Goan streets are outer-layers of what lies beneath them, is bookies for matka.

Police try to keep an eye on these Matka trades and raid whoever they suspect. It is illegal and everybody knows that yet the trade still runs and manages to make a huge sum of money. This business trade is merciless and quite dangerous with politicians, police, and gangsters involved. There has been a case of murder matka agent Guru Pujari was shot dead at Khareband, Margao, allegedly by hired gunmen by a rival matka agent. The connection of the police and these agents was revealed when the prime witness too was shot during the case trial for the same. The business is downright bloody due to the huge profits involved.

Although this is unchecked one cannot deny about its existence, with streets of Goa talukas secretly hosting the bookings of this trade, with the support of police and politicians and sometimes even they, being directly involved.

The police assure that they are doing the needful in curbing these trades. However, there still bookies around the markets, bars, outside shops, restaurants, small kiosks, schools, colleges, at bus stands, in railways stations and even next to government offices.  There will be at-least 50 matka trade bookies present within a 300-meter radius of the police station of Panjim and the numbers increase more around the vicinity of South Goa area.

There is a ban on the Matka in the state just like Gutka which is sold and consumed all over, similarly, the gambling activity of Matka is banned in Goa but there are places across the state wherein people play Matka day in day out.

With these incidents around, the matka trade shifted to an online mode wherein a person can register with some amount fees and play matka. According to Times of India, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) are investigating and had been working on taking down these websites and tracking down the people involved. This was done due to the raids that occurred in the bookie centers. Although nobody was convicted, the matka agents argue about the fact that gambling in casinos is openly practiced while the agents of matka trade are held down. They further state that their livelihood depends on this trade and wants to practice this trade openly.