TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday announced that government is in process of notifying the new casino rules that allow transfer of casino licences. In January, Parrikar had announced the he would finalize the casino rules by February 28.
“As the current rules do not have the provision to transfer casino licences, the government has rejected a proposal from a firm that has sought the transfer,” Parrikar told media persons, this afternoon.
Chief Minister was apparently referring to the proposal from Sahara Group whose vessel Qing is docked at the Western India Shipyard. It is learnt that the vessel has sought for transfer of the casino Maharaja license.
“Currently there is no provision for transfer of casino licence,” Parrikar, who is also State home minister, said adding that government has already drafted new casino rules with a provision for transfer of vessel.
He said that the rules are currently been vetted and would be notified shortly. “Government has already made it clear that it will not allow more than six offshore casinos in the State,” Parrikar said. Through a Cabinet decision recently government had announced not to allow any more casino licences and to phase out the existing casinos from River Mandovi before BJP ends its five year tenure.
A gaming commissioner is to be appointed by February 28 and from March 1, Goans would be banned from entering casinos.
