TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has assured the House that all offshore casinos, anchored in River Mandovi would be shifted to another destination by December 2015 in accordance with the Cabinet decision. In the budget speech he also proposed to enhance the existing entry fee of Rs 500 charged under the Goa Entertainment Tax Act, to Rs 700 per person per day.
The chief minister also proposed a fee of Rs 5 crore for transfer of casino licence and also to revise the annual recurring fee based on the area for land based casino and the capacity of passenger along-with crew members of offshore casino.
He however reiterated that the number of casino licences would not be increased.
“I assure that after December 3, 2015, there will not be any operational casino in River Mandovi. All will be moved out as government has taken undertakings from casino operators while renewing their licences,” he said in response to a starred question by Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte about government’s intention to shift offshore casinos.
There are five off shore casino vessels, Parrikar said, but it is not the concern of the State government where these will be shifted. “If they (casino operators) want, the government can help them but they should come to us asking for help,” Parrikar said while also clarifying that as leader of opposition, he had objected to offshore casinos and not land casinos.
“There are a total of five valid licences. All the licences expire by December 2015, after that there will be no casino vessel in the river,” he claimed. To a question whether the government was considering issuing casino licences, the chief minister replied in the negative. “No offshore casinos are considered. However, a five star hotel may apply for onshore casino and subject to conditions licence may be issued,” he said.
The Cabinet decision is that licences of all off-shore casinos which are expiring on or before March 31, 2014 may be considered for extension for a period not exceeding two years to enable them to make alternate arrangements of moving out of River Mandovi. While, licenses of off-shore casinos expiring after March 31, 2014 will not be renewed for operations in River Mandovi.
