Casino operators in Goa were apprehensive about restarting their business on November 1 with few tourists and limited capacity and other protocols. Operators will manage their casinos with 50 percent capacity as has been mandated by the state cabinet because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Jaydev Mody, the chairman of Delta Corp., which operates Deltin Royale and Caravel, told Times of India, “The business will be very down because we don’t know how many people will actually visit the casinos right now. We are a little concerned about that.”
He also mentioned the high cost of reopening at a time when customer numbers can’t sustain such costs. “It would be very difficult to manage with 50 percent capacity but we will still manage,” he said.
Director of Casino Pride Srinivas Nayak said his group would restart slowly and cautiously.
“Health is more important. If we start casino operations hurriedly and if we are too aggressive, and if Covid-19 cases go up we have to shut our operations then it would be a loss,” he said.
Congress on October 30 petitioned Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari to stop the state from allowing off-shore casinos to reopen. Congress claims opening the gaming halls will lead to traffic jams, increase the spread of Covid-19 and create pollution in the Mandovi.
“The safety and health of Goans should not be compromised and must be given high priority and anything which will jeopardize lives of Goans should not be allowed at any cost,” Congress said in the memorandum.
