Since South Goa fully banned "Housie" (also known as Tambola or Bingo) two months ago, the disappearance of this traditional number game continues to impact local clubs and community cultural activities, with authorities yet to ease the legality issues.
In the rural communities of Goa, Housie has long been considered a regular entertainment item in festival activities, football matches, and church gatherings. The gameplay is simple, where participants buy tickets printed with numbers and mark them according to the numbers randomly called out by the host. The first to complete a preset pattern wins a prize. This game was once considered a safe and fun social activity and was widely used as a charity fundraising tool. However, the Goa government has now redefined it as a "cash reward activity with a gambling nature" and has launched a severe crackdown.
On April 5, 2025, the South Goa District Tax Commissioner Egna Clitus cited the 1976 "Goa Public Gambling Act" to issue an order, explicitly prohibiting all Housie games offering cash rewards. This ban empowers the police and local administrative bodies to conduct raids, confiscate items, and sue the organizers.
Since the ban took effect, more than ten events have been shut down, community halls have been emptied, banners removed, and organizers summoned for investigation. This has particularly affected football clubs in the Salssette area—most of these clubs rely on Housie games as their main fundraising method. A club representative from Navelim admitted in an interview: "We have no other sources of income. The team's annual competition budget almost entirely comes from these community games."
The shift in attitude by the Goa authorities stems from the commercialization of Housie activities in recent years. From initially being small community games organized by volunteers, it has evolved into large-scale entertainment events equipped with DJs, lighting, food stalls, and even widely promoted on social media. Some events offer prizes up to 2 million rupees (about $24,000), with ticket prices ranging from 500 to 1000 rupees ($6 to $12), essentially operating as unlicensed gambling venues.
Goa's Chief Minister Pramod Sawant stated in public that "Small-scale community lotteries were harmless, but when the prizes reach 1.5 million, 3 million rupees, it's no longer a cultural act but a legal issue."
In response to this ban, about 40 local football clubs have jointly submitted a petition to the Goa Football Association (GFA), requesting permission to continue hosting Housie fundraising events under clear regulations. The proposal includes capping the prize money at 100,000 rupees (about $1,200) and promising transparency in accounting. However, as of now, the government has not responded or provided any exemptions.
This ban has sparked widespread controversy. The opposition criticizes the government for "selective morality" and double standards, pointing out that legal casinos continue to operate in Goa, collecting high gambling funds, while community-led small games are banned. Legal experts also question the appropriateness of applying the "Gambling Law" to culturally rooted activities.
To circumvent the ban, some organizers have tried to adjust the game packaging, such as promoting prizes as "points" instead of cash, or holding small-scale invitation-only games in private venues. However, law enforcement emphasizes that these strategies cannot evade the current ban, and violators will still be dealt with according to the law.
Currently, this ban is causing Goa to be caught in a collision between cultural heritage and legal norms. Despite the government's tough stance and no signs of revoking the ban, the ongoing pressure from cultural, sports, and grassroots communities may force the authorities to re-examine the policy boundaries of whether this "cultural game constitutes gambling" in the coming months.
