Delta Corp Limited has three off-shore casinos and one land-based casino in Goa, India. The company claims to hold a leadership position in the gambling market with its three casino vessels Casino Royale, Caravela and Kings Casino and the Casino Royale Riviera. Delta Corp is the largest gaming company in India and the only listed company in the sector.

Casino Royale is India’s largest live offshore gaming casino with 480 gaming positions (47 live gaming tables and 30 slot machines). Furnished with 4 decks and an amphitheatre with live music on the sun deck, the casino has separate VIP and VVIP gaming areas for high rollers. Serviced by a helipad, high speed feeder boats and three jetties, the casino offerings also include a crèche, an aquabar, 3 suites which are usually occupied by high rollers and their families as well as a 6,000 sq. ft. live kitchen that is managed by China Garden. Operational since November 2008, Casino Royale has seen over 100,000 visitors to date.

Caravela was India’s first live casino and offers 190 gaming positions (20 live gaming tables and 10 slot machines). The casino has 2 operational decks with level 1 being the gaming area and level 2 being the Food & Beverage (F&B) area.

King’s Casino is a 2,000 sq. ft. gaming vessel that offers 100 gaming positions (9 gaming tables and 10 slot machines). The casino has 2 operational decks with level 1 being the gaming area and level 2 being the Food & Beverage (F&B) area. The size of the boat allows mooring in shallow water, thus giving the casino access to the other river in Goa and subsequently, to untapped markets such as South Goa and North Goa. The Company plans to invest and increase the size of the vessel in the near future.

The Company through a subsidiary is also operating an onshore casino, Casino Royale Riviera in the hotel “Riviera De Goa Resort” under a casino management agreement. Riviera De Goa is a 5-star property located at Arpora in North Goa offering 98 rooms, 6 suites and apartments for guests. Casino Royale Riviera offers 80 gaming positions with 8 gaming tables and 7 slot machines.

Since 2009 there has been a running battle between Goan government officials, political parties and casino operators over the off-shore casinos. The government in Goa has been contesting corruption allegations of taking bribes to enable the offshore casino vessels to continue to operate amidst increasing opposition from local residents, environmentalists and some politicians. In July 2009 the government proposed increasing the casino entry fee from Rs200 to Rs2000.

The following month the Captain of Ports in Goa issued notice to off-shore casino operators to stop ferrying passengers to their vessels. The government also made a bid to move the gambling vessels away from the Mandovi River to a less controversial location away from river traffic and fishing grounds. However, the proposed relocation was contested in court as the casino licences were granted for the Mandovi River.

In August 2010 the Goa government was criticised for allowing offshore casinos and cruise vessels to dump raw sewage into the Mandovi river that runs by the state capital. In September last year the Cabinet agreed to a proposal made by casino owners to the Captain of Ports whereby they would relocate their vessels but to new berths on the Mandovi River.

The government now has ordered Delta Corp to close its Casino Royale offshore operation, citing violation of Goa’s Anti Gambling Act. It is claimed that the casino is not following the regulations laid down by the Government through the Act. The State Home Ministry issued its closure order yesterday evening. State Ports Minister Nilkant Halarnkar had said that action would be taken against Casino Royale as it has been operating without the mandatory licence issued by the Director General of Shipping (DGS).

M V Arabian Sea King (Kings Casino) owned by M/s Victor Hotels and Motels Private Limited, also part of the Delta Corp corporate structure, has been issued with the same closure order. The district magistrate and local police have been instructed to enforce the orders. Following the closure notices, shares in Delta Corp have fallen and were already down 8.41% on the previous day’s trading. The company hopes to reopen both operations as soon as possible. (E-02.01.11) © Copyright 2011 CasinoCompendium



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