Goa govt poker-faced even as off-shore casino muddies the waters for it

6th giant off shore casino in river Mandovi has exposed cracks in the cabinet of Manohar Parrikar-led government in Goa. The casino owned by former controversial Haryana minister Gopal Kanda entered the backwaters of Panaji on Thursday.

Goa government had decided to cap the number of casinos in Mandovi to five. However, a company owned by Gopal Kanda approached the High Court asking for permission to join the stream. Currently, Goa government is pointing fingers at the HC for this additinal behemoth off Goa's capital city.

Senior ministers in the cabinet have not taken this development lightly. "It is a cabinet decision that we won't allow more off-shore casinos in the state. I do not know how this one entered our waters," said Vijai Sardesai, town and country planning minister in the cabinet.

Legally, however, the company has been permitted merely to anchor in the river. It has no permission to operate a casino. The company claims they have paid all the dues to the government including pending license fee for their casino permit and hence, are entitled to start casino operations.

Goa is the only destination in the country where off-shore casinos are currently allowed. The present BJP-led government is facing a lot of ire as they had opposed the entry of casinos in Mandovi when they were in opposition.

WRONG GAMBLE

• The Goa government had decided to cap the number of casinos in Mandovi to five.
   
• Yet, a sixth casino, owned by former controversial Haryana minister Gopal Kanda, entered the backwaters of Panaji on Thursday.