The Chief Minister of the Indian coastal state of Goa has back-flipped on an earlier call to amend the Goa Public Gambling Act in order to better control local casinos, claiming instead that current protocols are sufficient.
Manohar Parrikar stated late last year his intention to amend the Goa Gambling Act to ensure no more licenses for floating casinos could be issued under the state’s casino policy. The casino policy, currently being drafted, will set the guidelines for Goa’s casino industry including the proposed relocation of all six floating casinos to a new “entertainment zone” along the northern border.
However, Parriker also stated at the time that amending the Goa Gambling Act was necessary because the casino policy couldn’t enforce all aspects.
Now he has changed his tune.
“There is no need for amending the Gambling Act,” he told local reporters this week. “In the existing Act itself, there are enough provisions to impose restrictions on functioning of the casinos.”
Goa is also looking to appoint a Gaming Commissioner under its new casino policy to regulate the industry.
