PANJIM: After initially announcing that the Goa Public Gambling Act would be amended, the BJP-led coalition government has backtracked stating there are enough provisions within the existing law to impose restrictions on the functioning of casinos.
Addressing media persons on Wednesday, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said there is no need to amend the Gambling Act at present.
“There is no need to undertake an amendment to the Gambling Act. In the existing Act itself there are provisions to impose restrictions on casino functioning. There are enough powers in the existing law and we are going through it,” Parrikar said responding to a question on whether the government is going ahead with the proposed amendment to the Gambling Act.
Soon after forming the government in 2017, Parrikar had announced that a casino policy setting guidelines for amending the Gambling Act would be released. The policy was to meant to regulate the casino industry by introducing the gaming commission.
The Chief Minister had said that the amended Act would define a particular date after which there will be no new casinos licences issued to any boat and will also include formation of the Gaming Commission.
There are currently six off shore casinos operational in River Mandovi and dozens of onshore casinos operational in various hotels.
