India’s transport minister will block attempts to legalise casinos
The cabinet member affirms the BJP party shall not authorize casinos in the country.
India.- Nitin Gadkari, India’s transport minister is determined to prevent the legalisation of casinos in India. Allegedly speaking on behalf of the BJP party he declared that “we oppose things like casinos and I will not give permission for that. People will also not tolerate such things.”
The state of Maharashtra was to decide back in October whether or not to authorise casino gambling within its borders. The Bombay High Court gave the state a six-month deadline to reach a decision on the matter, but Gadkari, Maharashtra’s former Public Works minister, claims the country’s nearly 1,300 islands may want to focus their tourism endeavours in “entertainment facilities” adding “definitely not casinos.”
Daman, Sikkim and Goa are the only states were casinos are legal. On the other hand, the state of Goa is seeking to restrict gambling to 21 years of age or older. Another proposal aims to limit gambling to foreigners, so Goans won’t be able to set foot in casinos unless they work there. This last rule faces opposition and Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, has not make any comments on the intentions of the government regarding this proposal’s follow up. He did comment, though, that the government plans to move Goa’s four floating casinos from the Mandovi river to another location by March 2016.
