Goa casino policy changes get delayed

After plans to get it ready by August 2018 failed, the Goa’s government casino policy remains under debate, the authorities say.

India.- The casino industry in Goa could soon get new regulations, but the authorities are taking their time. Despite setting an August 2018 deadline, the government “is still examining” the new Goa casino policy.

The Legislative Assembly questioned Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who revealed the matter is still under review. Congress MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco had asked for details about the progress on Goa’s casino policy.

Policy changes

The appointment of a new gaming commission and a casino policy update has been in the making for months. Goa continues to consider how to implement said changes, but it is now in the final stretch.

Goa chief minister Dr Pramod Sawant told the local media in April that both issues are close to resolution. He said: “they need time and cannot be decided arbitrarily,” but it is certainly getting closer.

The new Goa casino policy would get venues out of the Mandovi River and into a designated gaming zone.

Critics

Former Goa RSS chief Subhash Velingkar has accused the government of being too friendly with the casino industry. Velingkar is now demanding a white paper on the cost-benefit of the casino industry in Goa.

Velingkar issued on Monday a list of publicly articulated questions to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. He demanded a definite date for the move of the offshore casinos, which he believes should be outside the state capital. “Successive BJP governments in Goa have cheated the people vis-a-vis its assurances that the casino industry in Goa would be shut down,” Velingkar said.