Casinos get another 6-month breather

PANJIM: As expected, the offshore casinos were given another six-month extension to operate in River Mandovi by the State Cabinet on Wednesday.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the casinos have been granted the extension pending a final decision on the issue. “We will decide in the next six months what will be our final policy decision on casinos,” Sawant informed reporters.

He said one casino operator has expressed his willingness to move to Aguada Bay and consultations are underway on the issue.

However, Ports Minister Michael Lobo appears to be speaking the language of casino operators, stating that granting extension of six months to businesses is an injustice. “Extension of six months should not be done, a decision has to be taken whether the ships can really be shifted from River Mandovi or not. A final decision has to be taken in consultation with ministers and MLAs about the casino vessels in River Mandovi,” he said.

He indirectly said till the casino policy is finalised the casinos will stay in River Mandovi. “We have asked the CM that some policy has to come up. In the next six months, we have to finalise something. Extensions are not right. If you give a licence to an industry it is not right to grant extensions,” he said.