Delta group casinos ready to shift out of Mandovi river in Goa

Delta Corp Limited, which owns majority share in Goa's off shore casino business, has said that they are ready to shift out of the river Mandovi but is averse to move off shore casinos into the sea.

"The option to shift in the sea is not viable. There is a security risk. Its not safe," Jaydev Modi, Chairman, Delta Corp Limited told reporters here. He said that the company has given an undertaking to the state government that they would be shifting to the suitable location given by them. "But it should be preferably river. Any river will do provided there is adequate infrastructure," Modi said, adding that they don't mind shifting to Zuari River, which is in south Goa.

He said that the off shore casino operators have full faith that the state government will work together with them while shifting the vessels as the casino business has become an important factor for the economy of the state which is plagued with the mining closure.

"Government is framing the rules (under Goa Gaming Act). The Gaming commissioner will be appointed and only thereafter the situation would be clear as to where the off shore casino vessels would be shifted," Modi said.