No more offshore casinos: Parrikar
PTI, PANAJI | 16 May 2012 18:03 IST
Goa government today ruled out the possibility of having any more off-shore casino in the state, capping the number of floating gambling dens to six.
"State government will not allow more than six off-shore casinos which are already existing," Parrikar told reporters here today.
Manohar Parrikar-led government, which took over the reign of the state in March this year, was accused of promoting casino culture when it reduced the entry fee in the casinos from Rs 2,000 to Rs 500 per head.
Several organisations had accused Parrikar of double speak as he had vowed to get casinos out of Mandovi river, if he gets elected.
While reducing the entry fee, state government had instead increased the annual license fee to Rs 6.5 crore from Rs 5 crore.
Parrikar said he had issued suspension notice to one of the casinos, but its ownwe managed to get order stayed from the tribunal.
Goa has six off-shore casino vessels as a part state's casino policy.
The state government had not put any ceiling on the number of casinos.
