Panaji: Goa government will allow 10 offshore casinos in the state to control unchecked proliferation of gambling activities.
"Goa government will allow a maximum of 10 off-shore casino as government don't want unchecked proliferation of gambling activities in the state", Special Secretary (Home) Dilraj Kaur said.
Goa already has an offshore casino 'Caravela' floating in Mandovi river in Panaji. The state government, in a recent advertisement, had publicised its policy of having 10 offshore casinos in the state including the existing ones.
"The government has not invited application for casinos. In fact we feel it is better to have lesser casinos. We don't want to encourage gambling. We just intend to keep a check on it," Kau added.
The Goa government's stand had invited strong protest from Opposition members, with BJP condemning the state government's act of attracting gamblers to the state.
"Additional casinos will bring in competition and crime related to gambling," Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar said on Monday.
The state government, on the other hand, stated that they have not encouraged any offshore casinos and instead have made its policy clear that they would not entertain more than 10 casinos.
"Six companies have already approached with their proposals", Kaur said adding, "where to put up the casinos would be depending on the proposals. Each proposal will specify the place where it would like to have its casino boat anchored."
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