Panaji: Locals may find themselves unwelcome in playing areas of the casinos from 2019 once the Goa government appoints a gaming commissioner to regulate operations, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said on Friday.
A casino policy would be unveiled this month, he said in the Assembly on the final day of the monsoon session. He also said that offshore casinos operating in the Mandovi river off Panaji would be relocated to special designated zones which will be notified in the policy.
“As a policy, Goans will not be permitted to enter the casino playing areas. Only visiting tourists shall be permitted. A mechanism in this regard will be put in place once the gaming commissioner is appointed and appropriate rules for regulation shall be formulated,” Mr. Parrikar said.
“Licences for offshore casinos will be issued provided they grant their willingness, within a year from the date of policy being declared, to shift their operations to notified designated zones,” Mr. Parrikar said, adding that the six operating offshore casinos, would be allowed to complete the relocation process.
“Licences for casino operations being granted in the designated zone can be considered for a tenure of 10 to 15 years taking into account the huge investment required for such projects,” Mr. Parrikar said.
At present Goa has six offshore casinos operating from the Mandovi river, and nine onshore casinos at five star resorts.
