Goa orders closure of two offshore casinos

According to the home ministry order, MV Casino Royale and MV Arabian Sea King have to cease operation because of their inability to obtain a licence from the directorate general of shipping, a central government agency.

The order has been signed by Under-secretary (Home) V. Dangui. A senior home department official told reporters here that the management of both the casinos had been issued show cause notices earlier.

“They had responded saying that they would obtain the licences as soon as possible, but they did not manage to furnish the same,” the official said. The official further said that the district magistrate and the local police had been instructed to enforce the order issued by the home ministry at the earliest.Goa is the only state in India to have offshore casinos, seven of which dot the Mandovi river, along Panaji.