After meeting for the first time following an 8-month hiatus due to Covid-19, the Corporation of the City of Panaji, Goa, passed a resolution to renew the trade licenses of all six offshore casinos operating in River Mandovi. However, they have not been cleared to reopen. Panjim Mayor Uday Madkaikar said casino operators would need to reapply for their licenses, which will be valid until March 31, 2021. The CCP said the licensing fees would bring $70,300 to the city operating budget.
Last year the CCP unanimously voted against renewing the casino licenses. Locals had complained the casinos caused noise and disruption when they were docked between cruises. Citizens also were upset that the state government was taking so long to find the casinos another waterway to dock permanently.
Madkaikar said the reversal was due to the fact that the government already permitted casinos to resume operations effective November 1. He said CCP could face legal challenges if the licenses were not renewed. He added several restaurant and hotel owners and taxi operators asked the CCP to grant the licenses, which would help their companies attract business after the long Covid-19 shutdowns.
The resolution also includes rezoning the roads around the casinos’ land-based offices as “no parking” and “no stopping” zones to minimize disruption for local residents. The council will hire a private towing firm to enforce the orders.
Three council members opposed the resolution. They pointed out that a casino operator had filed complaint against Madkaikar and another councilor for alleged assault and molestation.
In addition, the Confederation of Indian Industry, Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Goa State Industries Association, the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa and the Verna Industries Association issued a joint letter to state officials urging them not to allow the local casino industry to avoid paying taxes of about $36 million that would have been due. The letter stated, “It is very disheartening that the government is contemplating waiving off a huge sum in spite of the fact that the state government claims to face a financial crisis.”
The letter noted other Goa businesses have repeatedly asked for relief but the state government denied the requests. It said small businesses, particularly in the restaurant and retail sectors, are barely surviving. “However, the state government has now come out with a decision to waive off crores of rupees to the casino industry, which is truly unacceptable,” the letter stated, adding many businesses which contributed most to the local economy were given “the last priority” while local casinos received special consideration.
