Margao – Commercial capital or Casino capital?

“After the raid by the Crime Branch, the casino is not in operation; thee raid was conducted just a few days after I have joined,”

Margao Police Inspector Ditendra Naik

“All these illegal activities are operating with the blessings of Police and Politicians. This should be immediately stopped. The casino culture will ruin our youth future. I have high hopes on SP South Pankaj Kumar Singh that he will not bend to pressure and will stop the illegal activities,”

Sooraj Naik Pawar (local resident)

 

Goemkarponn desk
MARGAO: While Panaji is known as the capital of Goa, with the housing of six off-shore casinos, Margao, which is called the commercial capital of Goa but is now slowly taking over by converting itself into a mini-casino capital.
There are nearly 10 to 15 mini-casinos in operation; besides these, there are few small joints of gambling clubs.
This gambling activity takes place in the vicinity of South Goa police headquarters. Recently, under SP South’s supervision, a joint team of Colva and Margao police conducted a raid on a Casino in one of the hotels of coastal areas of Benaulim.
The raid was conducted by a special team formed by SP South, including the Margao town police team and Colva police. Nearly 10 people were arrested by police and seized the material, including lakhs of rupees worth of gambling chips.
But, surprisingly, the same type of casinos are actively operating in full swing in the Margao area, and no action is being initiated by the police.
There are nearly 10 to 15 mini-casinos in and around Margao, right under teh nose of the authorities.
A few months back, SP South Pankaj Kumar Singh raided a casino den at Gandhi market while on patrol during a pandemic. Similarly, Crime Branch raided one more gambling den at Calconda, run by one Mujavar from Mandopa. The same person is known to be the king of casinos in operation in Margao.

Youth falling prey to this mini-casino
Several local youths are lured to casinos and tried to make quick money but have lost huge.
The casino operators have found the new idea, and it’s now available on mobile, and anyone who has given token money to the operator can bet on mobile.

Police have no control over the casino operation in Margao
A common man has to take all permission from the municipality while starting any business but to start any casino, they need not have to take any license at all. They just need to install computers in a shop.
Earlier, they used to operate in hidden places, but now they have no fear of anyone.
Police have so many sections like CID, LIB team, plus the regular beat policing, but still, the city police are unaware of this mini-casino operation which is in operation in every corner of the city.

Are casino operators backed by politicians?
The mini-casinos are openly operating in the city. Not a single councillor has spoken word aginst this casino, nor MLA has asked the police to take action.
“After the raid by the Crime Branch, the casino is not in operation; thee raid was conducted just a few days after I have joined,” said Margao PI Ditendra Naik.
“All these illegal activities are operating with the blessings of Police and Politicians. This should be immediately stopped. The casino culture will ruin our youth future. I have high hopes on SP South Pankaj Kumar Singh that he will not bend to pressure and will stop the illegal activities,” said Sooraj Naik Pawar (local).