Admitting that the Congress may have erred in allowing multiple casinos to set up shop in Goa, State president of the party luizinho Faleiro on Monday said that Goa’s reputation as a sin city of the country was thanks to prolific casino operations as well as rampant prostitution.
Faleiro also said that with the mining sector still not fully operational, the State was floundering as far as its economy was concerned.
“Goa is now India’s sin city thanks to its casino industry. Tourists are coming to Goa because of casinos, at least that is what the Government seems to be saying. With casinos there is also rampant prostitution which makes the sin city tag complete,” Faleiro said, while also admitting that the erstwhile Congress Government may have erred in granting multiple casinos the licence to operate in the State.
Faleiro also said that the State had to get rid of the sin city tag, which was bringing disrepute to Goa.
“Goa has so much more to offer tourists in terms of our heritage and culture. Instead what we are offering tourists today is only casinos, prostitution and drugs,” Faleiro said.
As of today, Goa, a top beach and nightlife tourism destination in the country, has four operational offshore casinos run by two corporate houses, — the Deltin Group as well as the Pride Group, besides several other casinos that function within five star in the hotels in the State. Incidentally, Goa is one of the very few states in India, where live casino gambling is legal. Unofficial estimates suggest that the casino industry generates a turn over of nearly Rs 2,000 chore and contributes over Rs 120 crore to the government kitty in form of direct taxes and licence fees.
