Goa casinos get a six month extension to relocate

The government granted another extension of six months to offshore casinos operating in the Mandovi river.

India.- Six offshore casino operating in the Mandovi river have received another six month extension to relocate. The decision made by the Goa government on Wednesday comes after a massive increase in the licensing fee of offshore and land-based casinos.

“The council of ministers resolved to grant extension to the six offshore casino licensees to relocate their offshore casinos from River Mandovi for a further period of six months from April 1 to September 30,” said a cabinet note. Urban development minister Francis D’Souza said that the extension has been granted because the Goa casino policy has not been finalised yet.

Casino operators said that the big increase in licensing fee would make casino operations difficult to survive and it would have a hard effect on the state’s economy, including tourism. “The massive hike will drastically impact not only the casino business but also the tourism industry”, said Damodar Bhatkar, liasion officer of Maharaja casino.

Shrinivas Nayak, director of Casino Pride, added: “We are in the process of preparing a memorandum to the government seeking review of the fees.”