Never said in no new casino licences would be issued: Laxmikant Parsekar

Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar refused in the Legislative Assembly that he had told the House that no new casino licences would be issued by the government.

To a joint question tabled by three legislators during the Assembly session yesterday on whether it is a fact that the state government had assured in the House that no new licenses will be issued to casinos, Parsekar has replied in negative.

The chief minister said there are 18 licences for on-shore casino and six for off-shore are issued by the Home Department.

Of the total six, one off-shore casino is not operational, the reply read.
 
All the off shore casinos are anchored in river Mandovi, near Panaji.

Several NGOs had recently organised a march in Panaji city opposing casino culture in the tourist state, demanding that no more licences should be given to these gambling dens.

The casinos in the state are governed by Goa, Daman and Diu Public Gambling Act, 1976.