Goa not keen to have too many casinos: Rane

Soft-paddling the issue of setting up of off-shore casinos, the Goa government has said that they were not keen to have too many of them in the state.

"I doubt whether all those who are seeking permission to start off-shore casino, would actually be operational as it is unfeasible," said Pratapsingh Rane, chief minister, Goa.

Goa had faced criticism from various sectors following its newspaper advertisement announcing the policy to have 10 off-shore casinos in the state waters.

While BJP was the first to condemn the government, the NCP stated that the government had not taken them into confidence before taking the decision.

Senior government officials had also disclosed that six companies have already paid processing fees to start the off-shore casinos and that the government was awaiting their proposals.

Feigning ignorance on any such advertisement about off-shore casinos, Rane said that two casinos, one in the north and another in the south, were operational in the state.

"I doubt whether all those companies who have paid processing fees would be able to operate.... It requires huge investment including a vessel... At the most, two or three may start," the chief minister said.

On security concerns, Rane said that once such casinos start the government will be able to take care of them.