Parrikar: “Cannot encourage gambling”
The government of the Indian state of Goa is planning to ban locals from entering or playing in area casinos.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar confirmed the plan, telling DD News, “I sincerely believe that gambling is not good. If we can we should remove it from the state. It is human nature to gamble that is why we cannot eradicate it completely, but definitely we cannot encourage it.”
Parrikar also said the government will look to relocate six offshore casinos from the Mandovi River to another location, but added that there is no plan to shut down casinos immediately, reported the Indian Express.
The government has promised since 2014 to move the casino boats, but in recent months awarded yet another license, and another six-month extension before the fleet has to move.
A previous relocation order from the former government of Laxmikant Parsekar had mandated that the five offshore boats move by March 31, according to Outlook India. That deadline been pushed back to September 30, and a new license has been granted to Golden Globe Hotels Pvt Ltd.
Parrikar recently told the Hindu the recent extension occurred in part because the state was in a transitional post-election period. “As the election code of conduct was in place, the government could not take any decision. The government will now identify alternate sites in three months for the boats’ relocation,” he said.
