PANJIM: Casino Pride Group’s venture – off-shore casino vessel ‘Casino Pride 2’ will soon be operating as ‘Argosy IV’ as the former ship is already moved out of River Mandovi for repairs. “The replacement is to facilitate dry dock repairs of Casino Pride 2. It is a routine procedure carried out every 2-2.5 years,” a government official said.
Argosy IV, which was brought to Goa at Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) during the fag end of last year, was purchased from Illinois in the United States of America. The company had then informed that the riverboat was brought in to use it as a spare vessel when Casino Pride I and Casino Pride 2 go in for repairs outside Goa this year.
The vessel, presently docked in River Mandovi, is currently undergoing minor work and regular inspection by a team of Ports officials. “The operations would begin once the inspection gives a go-ahead,” said the official. The vessel comprises of three decks and has 36,000 sq feet of gaming space.
Meanwhile, Haryana politician Gopal Kanda-owned Lucky 7 offshore casino vessel, that underwent extensive repair works at Cochi and MPT for over a year, is likely to enter River Mandovi shortly. The vessel will replace MV San Domino.
Due to grounding of its Lucky 7 vessel, Golden Globe Hotels Private Limited had entered into an agreement with Essel Group to take over the MV San Domino vessel, for one year. While further update was not available, a company official said the vessel will soon replace the existing one. “A lot of permissions are to be taken. Once everything is complete, Lucky 7 will be in River Mandovi,” he said.
