Anti-casino group objects to reduction in entry fees
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, MARCH 28
Aam Aurat Admi Against Gambling (AAAAG) has strongly objected to the Government’s reduction of fees of land casinos from Rs 2,000 to Rs 500, in the budget, a move it adds will entice more gamblers.
In a press release issued here, AAAAG maintained the Government had increased the casino entry fees to Rs 2,000 to deter locals from patronising these places. Now, in a complete U-turn the Government has reduced the entry fees to Rs 500, which will once again attract locals to these gambling dens, it noted.
The release further chided, “The Government has gone to Court seeking to shift the offshore casinos from the city limits and on the other hand has allowed more casinos in the river Mandovi.”
AAAAG has demanded from the Government to come out very clear on its casino policy and not top do a flip flop depending on the pressure from the casino industry which was now targeting middle-class Goans to rake in money.
The group opposing casinos in the State ridiculed, “This Government claims itself to be ‘aam admi sarkar (government of common man) but has done nothing to assess the negative impacts of casinos on Goan families, especially women, children and youth. It has not even bothered to put in place any mechanism to deal with gambling addiction and its fallouts.”
AAAAG asserted rules and regulations which it had promised the people in response to large-scale protests to shut down all casinos are yet to see the light of the day. “The Government has clandestinely allowed casinos in five-star residential complexes that are coming up in eco-sensitive zones.
“These casinos coming up in mangrove areas, for which entry will be through the rivers are being advertised on the website. Jetties are being proposed to be built for the casinos. AAAAG has decided to strongly resist setting up of casinos in the eco-sensitive zones in the villages,” the press release observed.
