Casino Goa, located on the M.V. Caravela and based in the waters of the Mandovi River, opened in February 2001 and is presently the only live gaming offshore casino in India. A second floating casino, granted a licence by the Goa state government last September, was due to open this month. The catamaran is sailing from the US, fully fitted for gambling, but is attracting growing opposition from local residents and the Catholic Church.

The opposition is not just from those who do not want to see an expansion in gambling. The Leela Group is planning to base its casino on the Sal River in southern Goa, where it has a hotel property, and has begun dredging to allow the catamaran access. This action is said to be destroying fish spawning grounds and threatening the traditional fishing industry. The trawlers use the part of the river where the floating casino is planned. On Independence Day last week the fishermen blocked the river with their boats and canoes in protest.

The Goa government has said it will examine the issue thoroughly and make a ruling. The Catholic Church, still influential in the former Portuguese colony, is backing the fishermen. Premier Leisure, which runs the Winners Casino in the Goa Marriott, is also planning to operate a floating casino. According to Casino Manager John Snowball, most of the opposition is from the Sal River area. The Premier Leisure project is for the Mandovi River area. It is thought that as many as 11 casino ships could be licensed to operate along the coast of Goa. (E-08.22.07)

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