16 Mar 2024  |   07:22am IST

Gambling, matka bookies thrive in Margao as police look the other way

Team Herald

MARGAO:  Despite the visible presence of matka (gambling) in and around Margao, including in premises owned by the Margao municipality, Margao police only registered 34 cases until December 17 in 2023, highlighting a disparity between the prevalence of the activity and police response.

The 17 police stations in South Goa recorded a total of 272 gambling cases last year, a number believed to be way lower than the actual occurrence considering the widespread acceptance of matka bets.

Despite complaints from parents about their children getting hooked onto gambling, particularly around the Old Market and Fatorda area, 

little action appears to have been taken.

A prominent Margao citizen, preferring anonymity, questioned the lack of action against matka and other gambling forms, reflecting broader community concerns.

Playing matka seems particularly prevalent among daily wage workers, many of whom reportedly spend a significant portion of their earnings on alcohol or gambling, leaving their families in squalor.

Matka bookies strategically operate near bars, often targeting patrons during post-working hours, further exacerbating the issue.