Goa CM defends housie ban amid calls for rethink by football association

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Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant defended the government’s recent decision to ban the popular community game ‘Housie,’ also known as Tambola, following concerns raised by various groups, including the Goa Football Association (GFA). The ban, issued under the Goa Public Gambling Act, prohibits gambling activities in public places without lawful authorization.

According to a report by Hindustan Times, CM Sawant explained that while Housie had been played on a smaller scale without issues in the past, the situation changed when large prizes were introduced. “The law is above all,” Sawant said. “For all this while it was happening in a small way, but now they started offering big prizes, we could not tolerate it.”

The ban follows a directive by South Goa Collector Egna Cleetus, who emphasized that such activities are prohibited under the Goa Public Gambling Act, 1976. The Act makes operating and maintaining common gaming houses a cognizable offense. The recent crackdown comes after Housie events, with grand prize announcements running into lakhs of rupees, were widely advertised.

However, the GFA has strongly opposed the ban. In a letter to the chief minister, GFA President Caetano Silva argued that Housie has been a longstanding part of inter-village football tournaments in Goa. Silva pointed out that these games not only provide entertainment but are a critical source of funding for local clubs. “These funds are used to support grassroots football development and sustain social initiatives undertaken by local clubs throughout the year,” Silva explained.

Silva further noted that with sponsorships and donations on the decline, the income from Housie is essential for the survival of these registered clubs. Many of these clubs maintain audited accounts and comply with financial regulations. “A sudden halt to such activities could spell the end for several clubs and have a detrimental impact on the future of football in Goa,” he added.

Veteran football fan Radharao Gracias echoed similar sentiments, stating that Housie, when played in moderation, benefits clubs financially. “Anyone who attends village football tournaments will be aware that at the interval or sometimes at the end of a game Housie is routine. The coupons are sold by volunteers of the club. The earnings go towards the club finances,” Gracias said.

While some continue to defend the traditional practice, activist Peter Borges has a different viewpoint. Borges believes the game has evolved into something beyond its original form. “What we are seeing now is something entirely different—massive prize money, open promotions, children present, and zero regulation,” Borges said. “It has quietly turned into high-stakes gambling, normalised in public spaces under the banner of tradition.”

Borges further emphasized that the rise in prize money and the commercialization of the game could undermine the community spirit that Goa’s football culture is built on. “Goan football was built long before tambola jackpots became a thing,” he said. “Trying to normalize unregulated gambling in the name of tradition is a slippery slope.”

Meanwhile, authorities have already begun enforcing the ban. In response to the collector’s order, officials are closely monitoring areas for reports or complaints about illegal Housie operations. Raids, inspections, and seizures will be conducted where necessary.

As the debate continues, it remains to be seen whether the state government will reconsider its stance on Housie, balancing tradition with concerns about gambling.

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