When it comes to the world’s top gaming destinations, several names always come to mind. Macau, naturally, tops the list, followed by Las Vegas. And then there’s—Goa?
According to opposition legislator Pandurang Madkaikar, a lawmaker who represents the Indian state, Goa is actually the third-largest casino destination worldwide, though the Macau Daily Times reports that Goa’s five offshore casinos and nine hotel-based gaming halls have a total of 200 slot machines and 400 gaming tables.
A staunch opponent of casinos, Madkaikar was upset when Jaydev Mody, head of largest casino operator Delta Corp., bought a 65 percent stake in the Indian Super League franchise FC Goa.
“Tomorrow they will take over Goa,” he warned. “Jaydev Mody will decide who will be a minister and a chief minister. In 10 years, casinos will take over Goa and all of us,” Madkaikar said.
He urged Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, who supports the jobs and revenues that gaming has brought to Goa, to “go to Las Vegas and Macau” to see the impact of gaming on society. “Macau has large casinos and is dominated by the casino lobby. The identity of Macau is finished. It is ruled by the casino mafia. Tomorrow they will take over Goa.”
According to the Times of India, Parsekar contends there been no rise in criminal activity related to casinos. “No such complaints have been received by the home department,” he wrote to the state’s legislative assembly.
