PANAJI
The government has notified extension of licenses for off-shore casinos by another two years, allowing them to operate in River Mandovi till March 31, 2027.
On December 18, 2024, the State Cabinet granted the six offshore casino vessels permission to continue their operations in the River Mandovi till March 2027 with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant stating this would be the final extension before relocating the vessels.
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.
In 2018-19, the State identified four sites to relocate the offshore casinos -- the mouth of the Mandovi River near Aguada jail, another two alternative locations in Zuari River – one to the east of the bridge and the other west of the bridge, and the last option being Chapora river.
There were objections which led the government to seek alternate options.
CM had stated that the government has been renewing the extensions granted to the offshore casinos every six months; but it was only in October 2021, when a twelve-month extension was granted.
