Govt approval for two more offshore casinos

NT NETWORK
Posted on 2008-10-11
PANAJI - The state government has finally given approval for two more offshore casinos to operate in the state waters taking the number of casinos granted permission to operate to four even as two more casinos are waiting in queue for permission.
While the two -- Caravela and Leela (Rio) -- were already granted permission by the government, two others Pride of Goa and King’s casinos have been granted permission recently. The Chief Secretary, Mr J P Singh, confirmed that the permissions have been given by the government to two more casino operators to carry out activities offshore.
Two more floating casinos, one owned by the Salgaoncars being refitted and nearing completion would join the fleet soon and the other Casino Royale, the biggest among the lot is expected to join others in near future.
Meanwhile, the former finance minister, Mr Dayanand Narvekar has by a letter addressed to the Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat, drawn the attention of the government to the ill-effects caused by the operation of casinos in river Mandovi and stated that houses in Betim, Britona have been affected by the same and that fish catch has become almost negligible. Mr Narvekar has also said that boat owners, non-governmental organisations and general public have been objecting to operation of new casinos. He has also said that gambling in casinos was not regulated in the state as is done abroad, wherein more than 50 per cent of investments comes back to gamblers. Gambling has also destroyed a number of families in the past, he has stated.
He has called upon the Chief Minister to take a bold decision not to permit more casinos than the two that were issued licences earlier in the same way he decided to do away with special economic zones despite objections from his cabinet colleagues.