Law dept approves notice to off-shore casinos

PANJIM, DEC 22
The government has got a clearance from the law department to issue show cause notices to off-shore casinos which are doing business without obtaining valid permissions such as registration certificate and a trade licence.
The government had sought legal opinion from the Law Department about action to be initiated against off shore casinos operating without trade licence.
A law officer who did not want to be named told Herald that the department has recommended to the government that notices could be issued to off-shore casinos that are conducting business without valid permissions. The department of River Navigation and Home Department have been intimated about these.
However, in view of petitions pending before High Court, it has been suggested that it would not be appropriate to issue direct order to “stop operations,” to off-shore casinos, the officer said.
In September this year, the government had revoked its earlier decision wherein it had ordered off-shore casinos to shift to Aguada Bay.
The decision was challenged before High Court by the stake holders of off-shore casinos while off-shore casinos continued to operate after obtaining temporary relief from the Court.
Meanwhile, after dilly-dallying for some months — in September the government took another policy decision revoking its earlier decision. The off shore casino vessels anchored within city limits of river Mandovi were asked to move a little away from their present locations but not as far as Aguada Bay.
Subsequent to policy decision by the government in October, the High Court granted three months time to casino stake holders to comply and submit all relevant documents required to operate and conduct business. The deadline fixed by the Court ends on January 23.