Drafting rules to ban casino entry of persons below 21 in Goa: CM Parsekar

Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Wednesday informed the state Assembly that his government is drafting rules to ban entry of persons below 21 years of age to casinos.

The rules (regarding the ban) are being drafted, he said, adding, "We will notify the rules when they are finalised." The casino industry in the state has been facing criticism after a section of society opposed it claiming that underage youth were turning into gamblers.

The then Manohar Parrikar led-government had assured that rules would be formed to stop youth from visiting the casinos.

Responding to a question tabled on the floor of the House, Parsekar said the matter regarding shifting of vessels in river Mandovi is under consideration.

Earlier, the Goa Cabinet had resolved to move the casinos in river Mandovi to an alternate location by March 2016. The coastal state has four offshore casino vessels which are currently anchored in Mandovi.