India gets its second live casino in Sikkim

Casino enthusiasts in India now have another reason to cheer, as a full fledged on-land five star casino has come up in Sikkim to give the thrill of live gaming like that of Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau or nearby Kathmandu.


Casino Mahjong, the second only land based live casino in India as well as Sikkim became operational at Hotel Mayfair at Ranipool near Gangtok on Friday (June 24). Mayfair group, the state government licensee has authorised Trio Ventures owned by local entrepreneurs to run the facility.

Giving players an almost entire gamut of live gaming unlike electronic gaming stations in other parts of India, the manually operated Casino has roulettes, black jack, baccarat, kitty, mini flush and poker. Sixty attendants and six pit bosses look after the gambling station.

The Casino presently has eight slot machines, four roulettes and ten card tables spread over five thousand square feet with ten more slot machines to be added by August. Live musical performance and a bar add up to the gambling excitement.

Tourism stakeholders in the state are betting big on the casino as it would be able to attract more visitors to the state. As more good hotels and night life zone develop it is seen as tourism boom for Sikkim to offer more for high-end tourists who want to see the mountains and also entertain themselves in a casino.

Travel Agents Association of Sikkim (TAAS) president Lukendra Rasaily says that the casino would add to position Sikkim as a high-end tourism destination brining home good business for hoteliers and travel services. The opening of the gambling stations is expected to create year round tourism season for the hill state is set to be the most sought after gambling destination once the airport at Pakyong in East Sikkim becomes operational.