Goemkarponn Desk
PANJIM: The Chief Minister Pramod Sawant-led State cabinet on Wednesday granted a further 1 year extension to offshore casinos to operate in River Mandovi till September 30, 2022, as the government is yet to identify an alternative site for their relocation.
The present 1 year extension will lapse on September 30. The State cabinet approved a further extension from October 1, 2021 to Sept 30 , 2022.
“Extension of time limit for a further period of twelve months i.e. from 01/10/2021 upto 30/09/2022 to the offshore casinos for relocating from River Mandovi to an alternate feasible site,” said CM Sawant
There are six offshore casinos operating in River Mandovi, they include MV Horseshoe Casino, MV Pride of Goa, MV Casino Royale, MV Argosy IV, MV Royale Flotel and MV Lucky.
The then BJP-led government had taken a policy decision in 2013 to relocate the offshore casinos from River Mandovi.
However, the failure to identify an alternative site forced the government to grant them a series of extensions to continue in the river since March, 2014.
Meanwhile, the licence issued under the Goa Daman and Diu Public Gambling Act, 1976 to MV Horseshoe Casino expired in Aug 2018 and renewal process is under process. While the licence of one other casino will lapse in 2021, the licences of the remaining four casinos are valid until 2023.
