In the Indian state of Goa, an anti-casino organization called the Aam Aurat Admi against Gambling is speaking out against politicians who have repeatedly promised to remove casino boats from the Mandovi River, repeatedly reneged on those promises and also added to the fleet.
According to the Hindu, the AAAG is “an umbrella body of women’s collectives and other groups fighting casinos. They say the decision of the Goa government to promote gambling for tourism is “against public policy.”
“Gambling is against public policy and is prohibited by law. The objective of the Goa Gambling Prevention Act was to stop it and has several provisions to prevent gambling and its advertisement,” said activist Sabina Martins in a statement. Martins pointed out that several successive governments have pledged to remove casinos from the Mandovi, but the boats remain in place and several new ones have been added. The plan now is to provide special zones on land at Mopa for gambling.
The organization wants no casinos in Goa, on land or water. It claims that gambling brings with it a laundry list of social ills including prostitution, alcoholism, forgery, theft, suicide and “goondaism,” or violent behavior.
Goa has six floating casinos on the Mandovi River off Panaji and 10 onshore hotel-based casinos.
