Goa CM softens stance on casinos, says they remain in state

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar again changed his stance on the casino industry in the state and said he has no option but to allow gambling i✱n the state due to the windfall revenues generated by the casino industry.

, “I get Rs 150 crore worth of😼 revenue from casinos. Although I am personally against them, how will I be compensated if I close th🦹em…”

Parrikar’s latest comment may be a pragmatic compromise on his ethics and values in favour of fiscal prudence and economic health of the state. Parrikar and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Goa have been aggressively against casinos and had campaigned against casinos since the 2012-assembly elections. Parrikar’s last anti-casino statement was in June 2013 when he rejected permission to Delta Corp for a new offshore casino and made a public statement promising to phase out offshore casinos by n��ot renewing their licen🍎ses.

While Goan columnists, opposition leaders and the social organi꧑sation Aam Aurat Aadmi Against Gambling (AAAAG) were quick to , industry experts belie💃ve that casinos have greatly benefited the fiscal health of the state and have promoted tourism besides conferring many indirect benefits such as employment opportunities and view this as a reprieve for the Indian gaming industry.