Gangtok, May 15 (UNI) The Sikkim government today notified the Sikkim Casino Games (Control and Tax) Rules, 2007, in its official gazette, to set up casinos, official sources said here today.

The rules had been published as required by the Sikkim Casino Games (Control and Tax) Act, 2002, to facilitate interested parties to set up casinos in the state.

The state tourism department would issue licences for running casino games as per the provisions of the Act.

Any interested person, company or firms, desiring to obtain licence to operate casino games, could apply for the same, the notification stated. The interested parties would also have to produce a 'no-objection certificate' from the health, energy, power and fire services department.

The licence for operating casinos would be issued only to hotels having infrastructural and other facilities of 5-star standards.

The fee for the licence would be Rs 5000, including application fee.

A government-authorised inspector would have the power to inspect the premises without any search warrant before issuance of certificate of registration, the notification stated.

Entry or employment of people under 18 years of age would be banned for such casino-based enterprises.

License forms had been made available with the state tourism department, official sources informed.

Sikkim was the second state after Goa in the country to allow casinos to operate, sources added.

UNI