The government of Goa says the Indian state’s offshore casinos will be evicted when their licenses expire at the end of 2015.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar offered few details, according to news reports. Addressing the state Legislative Assembly, he said the holders of the five licenses, whose popular casinos ply the Mandovi River in the capital of Panaji, had been informed when their licenses were last renewed that their days on the river were numbered.
“If they approach me, we can think about giving them a place somewhere,” he said.
He said also that his governing Bharatiya Janata Party has no problem with the 10 or so casinos operating in tourist hotels in and around the capital.
“Our opposition was only to offshore casinos, not onshore casinos. There is a difference,” he said. He did not elaborate.
Mr Parrikar and the BJP have encountered criticism from community groups and opposition lawmakers for reneging on a campaign promise to shut down gambling on the Mandovi. During Legislative Assembly elections in 2012, the BJP had promised to “throw the casinos into the sea”.
Mr. Parrikar has since said the casinos would be relocated to deep water off the coast before his term in office ends in 2016.
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