Panaji, July 7: Launching a scathing attack on the Goa Government over its handling of casino operations, Enough is Enough (EiE) Convenor Retd. Justice Ferdino Rebello on Tuesday alleged that successive governments had become “hostages of the powerful casino lobby” and demanded answers to what he described as serious failures in enforcing the law.

In a detailed public statement released in English, Justice Rebello accused the Government of deliberately allowing offshore casinos to continue operating on the River Mandovi despite statutory provisions requiring gaming vessels to operate only in Goa’s territorial waters. He alleged that repeated representations made to the President of India, the Prime Minister, the Governor of Goa and the Chief Minister had failed to elicit any meaningful response.

Justice Rebello said the EiE movement had consistently maintained that casino vessels should be shifted from the Mandovi to the territorial waters in accordance with the Goa Public Gambling Act. He noted that although the legal framework was amended and Section 13-B came into force on February 1, 2020, the vessels continue to remain permanently moored in the Mandovi while the Government has allegedly facilitated their continued operation through notifications and Cabinet decisions.

Calling gambling a “sin industry” and a business that enjoys no fundamental constitutional protection, Rebello argued that the State has every legal authority to regulate or withdraw permissions granted to casino operators. He questioned why Goa remains the only State permitting such large-scale casino operations despite their alleged social and cultural impact.

Tracing the history of casino legislation in Goa from 1992 onwards, Rebello referred to successive amendments made under Congress and BJP governments, Cabinet decisions promising relocation of offshore casinos, and repeated extensions granted to operators. He claimed that despite several policy decisions over the years, no government had ensured the removal of casino vessels from the Mandovi.

He further alleged that between 2023 and 2025 casino vessels were allowed to continue gaming operations despite the absence of the required notification, while no enforcement action was initiated by the Gaming Commissioner or the Goa Police. Rebello also questioned why the rules required under the amended Act have still not been framed more than six years after Section 13-B came into force.

Justice Rebello also alleged that information available with the movement indicates that table gaming is being carried out in five-star hotels despite the law permitting only electronic amusement and slot machines. He questioned why inspections and enforcement powers available to the Gaming Commissioner had allegedly not been exercised.

The EiE Convenor posed ten pointed questions to the Government, demanding explanations on:

• Why casino vessels continue operating on the River Mandovi despite Section 13-B requiring operations only in territorial waters.
• Why the Home Department, Gaming Commissioner and Goa Police have allegedly failed to enforce the law.
• Why rules under the amended Goa Public Gambling Act have not been notified since 2020.
• Whether illegal gaming is being permitted in five-star hotels beyond what the law allows.
• Why successive governments repeatedly extended deadlines instead of relocating casino vessels.
• Why the Government assumed responsibility for identifying alternative sites for casinos but allegedly failed to do so.
• Why casino operations allegedly continued even during periods when no valid notification existed.
• Why the Cabinet extended permissions up to March 2027 despite the Cabinet Secretary’s note reportedly proposing a shorter period.
• Whether statutory provisions relating to tourist permits and regulation of gaming are being implemented.
• Why Goans have been prohibited from entering casinos while visitors from the rest of the country continue to be permitted.

Justice Rebello stated that if the Government fails to answer these questions, the public would be entitled to draw its own conclusions regarding the alleged relationship between the casino lobby and the State administration.

He further questioned whether Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant, who also holds the Home portfolio, along with the Chief Secretary and senior officials responsible for the implementation of the Goa Public Gambling Act, would publicly respond to the issues raised by the movement.

“The people of Goa are waiting for answers. Silence will only strengthen the perception that the casino lobby exercises greater influence than the Government itself,” Justice Rebello said.