For years, lawmakers in the Indian state of Goa have pledged to ban casino boats operating in the Mandovi River. But the fleet has just gotten bigger with the addition of the Big Daddy Casino, operated by Golden Globe Hotels Private Ltd.
The boat launched on May 9 with an 11-day “Opening Extravaganza” that continued through the 19th.
A report in Inside Asian Gaming described the Big Daddy as “a specially commissioned” 72-meter (236-foot) vessel with a 50,000-square-foot, three-deck casino with 110 gaming tables including blackjack, roulette, Indian Flush and poker. The ship built in 1995 “also houses a multi-cuisine lavish restaurant offering the best of local and global cuisines, a bar, a live barbecue area on the topmost deck, a sundeck and a variety of entertainment programs including national and international acts to cater to its visitors,” the company stated.
Golden Globe describes itself as “the biggest and most modern offshore gaming destination in Asia.” It’s owned by Haryana politician Gopal Kanda. His company’s MV Lucky Seven vessel ran aground in bad weather in July 2017, injuring several crew members. Lucky Seven was later found unsuitable for operations and Golden Globe replaced it with a leased vessel called MV San Domino, IAG reported.
Big Daddy Casino has now replaced MV San Domino despite ongoing controversies about casino boats on the Mandovi.
According to Yogonet.com, the Goa Forward Party says if casinos do not directly benefit Goans, they should be shut down. Subhash Velingkar, Goa Suraksha Manch candidate for the Panaji Assembly by-poll, said he would move the casinos to the Arabian Sea if elected.
GoldenGlobe is one of six companies licensed to operate offshore casinos in Goa.
