New Goa CM says he will study proposed casino policy

Newly appointed Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has i🍌ndicated that he has not yet decided his approach towards offshorಌe casinos in the state and noted that he will need some time to decide the state government’s attitude towards the gaming industry in the state.

Sawant, in an interview to The Times of Inꦆdia, when asked a pointed question on the draft casino policy framed by his predecessor Manohar Parrikar (which was on the verge of finalisation), that envisaged shifting of offshore casinos from River Mandovi to a designated area on land, without studying the subject.

He added that he will have a look at the draft casino𓆉 policy framed by the state government. He further assured the newspaper that he will study the subject c𒉰arefully and revert with his stand in the days to come.

Sawant suܫcceeded Parrikar as the 13th Chief Minisꦇter of Goa after Parrikar passed away on 17th March following a prolonged illness.

In August 2018, Parrikar had announced on the floor of the le𝐆🍃gislative assembly that the state government would within the next one month, be framing a p💧olicy to shift offshore casinos to a designated area on land within the next four years. He had also stated that long term licenses of 10-15 years will be granted to casino companies that agree to shift out of River Mandovi.

The casino policy as envisaged by Parrikar would also have included app🎐ointment of a Gaming Commissioner to oversee casino activities in the state and banning local Goans from playing in casinos.

Due to Parrikar’s sustained illness over the past one year, the finalisation and notification of the casino policy could not be completed, which compelled the Goa cabinet to gr🐻ant a six mont𝓡h extension to offshore casinos to continue functioning from the River Mandovi.