Goa govt extends deadline for off shore casinos to relocate

In a major relief to the off-shore casino industry, the Goa government today extended the deadline for casino operators to relocate from river Mandovi, till March 31, 2016.
The State cabinet has approved the decision to extend the deadline for the casino operators to venture out of river Mandovi to next year in March.
The BJP-led government had announced in past that they will ensure off-shore casino vessels move out of the river by 2015 when their licences are due for renewal.
Goa has four off shore casino vessels, and the licence of first vessel MV Horse Shoe, operated by M/s Delta Corp Ltd, expires tomorrow, i.E August 29.

"The cabinet resolved to grant extension to off shore casinos to relocate themselves till March 31, 2016 or till alternate site is finalised by government, whichever is earlier," Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar told reporters after the meeting.
Parsekar said the licence of the three other vessels, including MV Pride of Goa, is expiring on September 12, 2015, MV Casino Royale on October 23, 2015 and MV Boa Sorte on December 3, 2015.

"In next four months, all the licences would expire," he said.
The government will renew the licences of off shore casino vessels but they will be permitted to operate in (river) Mandovi only till March 31, 2016, Parsekar said.

Apparently, the government which had assured that no licences will be renewed till the casinos shift from the river, it has now said asking operators to relocate without providing adequate infrastructure to them may hurt investors' confidence.
"While government is committed to move the vessels, it needs to keep in mind issues like investors' confidence, which is a pre-requisite for bringing in new investment," the chief minister said.