The government of the Indian state of Goa will not let its casino cruise ships back into the Mandovi River after their current licenses expire.
The announcement by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is in line with a cabinet decision last year not to allow any new vessels into the market during a grace period for the existing four to relocate.
“All the vessels will move out in the next two years,” Mr Parrikar told the state Legislative Assembly. “If they don’t move out, their licences would not be renewed.”
Certificates attesting to the safety and seaworthiness of the boats begin to expire this year.
Mandovi River gambling has been a controversial topic in the tiny state on the Arabian Sea, the smallest in India, and one of only three jurisdictions in the country where casinos are permitted.
Grassroots opposition to the vessels is organized and outspoken, and the issue has been an effective weapon for Mr Parrikar’s Congress Party opposition in the Assembly. His Bharatiya Janata Party came to power two years ago with a pledge to put the boats out of business, but their importance as a source of tourist income and tax revenues led the government to renew their licenses last year.
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