Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said the Goa government could not compel the state’s casino industry to go cashless. He said cashless/digital payment initiatives were “promotional activities” and hence could not be enforced by the state government. Also Read - Lava Pay launched as mobile payment solution for feature phones: Here is how it works without internet

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“I think cash transactions do not come under state government powers. It is the central government… cashless is a promotional activity; digital payment is a promotion activity,” Parrikar said at a press conference.

The presser was organised by the state Bharatiya Janata Party to observe ‘Anti-Black Money Day’ on the first anniversary of the demonetisation move. ALSO READ: Demonetisation anniversary: How one major announcement a year ago altered my life

“I’ll prefer everything to operate in a cashless way. Even roadside stalls — if they sell articles for Rs 5 in a cashless way, it is good. If more transactions are recorded, the government will get good revenue and taxation levels will come down.”

Goa has five offshore casinos and more than half a dozen onshore casinos in many of the five-star resorts in the coastal regions.