India environmental group Enough is Enough, led by former Chief Justice Ferdino Rebello, is demanding the government shut down offshore Goa casino boats.
India’s Enough is Enough movement has lodged a formal protest against casino boats on the Mandovi River in Goa. On Tuesday, the activist group opened a permanent headquarters in the Goan capital of Panaji.
Goans have long opposed the floating casinos, which they say have compromised the environment, congested river traffic and adversely affected local fisheries. Former Chief Justice Ferdino Rebello, who has emerged as the face of the movement, also claims the boats violate India’s Gambling Act. He has challenged their presence in missives to Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
“I will be writing again, explaining why these casinos cannot operate there,” Rebello told reporters in Panaji. “If the government does not respond, people will have to consider whether another government should do it.”
Opposition to casino boats is part of a broader environmental campaign in India. Rebello said Enough is Enough is taking the campaign to the people and their talukas, governments that govern clusters of villages. The organisation has drafted a resolution for local lawmakers, urging them to take action against overdevelopment and say no to hasty land-conversion applications.
According to the Navhind Times, the group claims that unchecked construction does more than damage the ecology. It strains local power resources and could alter “Goa’s identity, cultural heritage and the Konkani language”.
Goa home to 13 land-based, riverboat casinos
In India, casino gambling is illegal at the federal level, but permitted by several states including Goa. Presently, Goa is the home of 13 casinos, seven on land and six that operate offshore, in waters of the Mandovi. In March, Chief Minister Sawant announced a threefold increase in licensing fees for new land-based operators. He added that the state has no plans to licence new offshore casinos.
“The number of offshore casinos is fixed at six,” he said. “The fee increase is only for those who apply to set up new onshore casinos in the state.”
Repeatedly over the years, Goa officials have promised relocate the Mandovi casinos to other waterways, without success. According to The Goan, the announcement of higher land-based casino licence fees coincides with protests by locals who oppose a massive, 2,000-passenger casino boat that allegedly will replace an existing smaller casino ship.
Marjorie Preston
Marjorie began her gaming career in 2007 and has focused on Asian gaming markets since 2020. Outside of work, she writes about travel and film and plays the drums.