Goa's offshore casinos, unmissable glitzy landmarks in the Mandovi river off the Capital, are likely to stay put.
The revenue generated for the State Government by the five offshore casinos, which have been a target of ire across the political spectrum over the last half a decade, has tilted the decision in their favour, according to Chief Minister laxmikant Parsekar. The BJP had threatened to rid the river of the offshore casino industry, as part of a poll promise made ahead of the 2012 State Assembly elections.
"The Government treasury is getting a considerable amount... They were permitted, it was because of permissions maybe of the earlier Government that they are functioning there. Bucking such a set business, may end up in someone going to court," Parsekar told The Pioneer earlier this week. Parsekar, however, also assured that no new casinos would be given permission.
Ahead of the 2012 State Assembly poll, the BJP had promised that if voted to power, its Government would shift the offshore casinos anchored in the River Mandovi into the Arabian sea.When in the opposition, the BJP had demanded that the then Congress Government remove them within 30 days. However, after becoming Chief Minister, Parrikar, now Union Defence Minister asked for four years to complete the task. Goa has five operational offshore casinos and about 10 five-star hotel operated onshore casinos, which attract hundreds of thousands of gamblers to the State annually.
Parsekar now claimed on more than one occasion that doing away with casinos may not be such a good idea after all and that in fact the Government was thinking of renew the casino operation licences. "We will not allow new casinos. And those which are there since the Congress regime and from where there is considerable revenue coming in, we will have to think about closing them in one go," Parsekar said.The Congress has Parsekar's statement claiming the BJP had given in to the casino lobby.
"This is a complete compromise. Parsekar is just living up the BJP Government's reputation for U-Turns," Congress spokesperson Durgadas Kamat said. Shrinivas Nayak, director of Pride Group of Casinos and Hotels and a vocal advocate of the casino industry in Goa welcomed Parsekar's stand."This will not only provide stability to the industry, but also encourage investors for more investments in Goa in tourism and other sectors," Nayak said in a statement issued. Goa attracts nearly three million tourists every year, with casinos accounting for a sizeable percentage of the footfalls.