Ads “influence young minds”
Members of the Congress Party in Goa have called for an immediate halt to advertisements promoting casinos in the Indian state, home of 11 onshore casinos and five casino boats operating in the River Mandovi.
“Just like there is a ban on advertising cigarette and alcohol, there should be a ban on advertisements promoting casinos. The state government should impose the ban,” said Congress President Luizinho Faleiro.
“When children go on the field to watch a football match, they will see casino advertisements, and this will influence their young minds.”
The Congress Party demanded the ban amid ongoing controversy about the fleet of the casino boats, which locals claim have disrupted the fisheries that provide their livelihood. “The Congress Party is firm on its decision that casinos should be moved out of the state, somewhere deep sea,” Faleiro added. “But let us take public opinion on whether they need casinos in the state or not. We will go by what the public says.”
He made no secret of his own opinion, however, saying casinos “have made Goa into a vice capital of India.”
