The casino industry is playing along with the discourse of the politicians. Top executives in the industry asserted (off the record) that it was not feasible or practical to shift the casinos to the Aguada Bay or any one of the other four or five locations which were being considered in the past.
One section of the casino industry explained why it was impossible for even a single casino vessel to be shifted to the Aguada Bay.
“The Bay area is at the mouth of the river and is influenced by tidal variances and strong winds. It will be impossible to ferry customers via feeder boats, as it is too risky,” said a top official of a casino operator.
Also in the balance seven months of the year, in fair weather, ferrying customers is next to impossible because of choppy waters.
A couple of years ago, a class six vessel, the Maharaja was in the Aguada Bay for six months, and was entirely inaccessible. A Class Six vessel is more equipped than the Class Seven vessels on board which the casinos are currently operating in the River Mandovi.
Moreover, the Captain of Ports (CoP) declares the Aguada Bay area out of bounds for all maritime activity for five months of the year because of the sand bar. This lasts from May to September, and as such, there can be no movement of feeder boats to ferry clients to the casino vessel.
“After paying an annual license fee of Rs 30 - 40 crores, there is no way we can be expected to shut operations for these five months in the year,” said the casino operator. “If customers cannot embark mid-stream, the business cannot run,” the top executive of one of the three casino companies operating in the Mandovi went on to say, ruling out the possibility of the casinos shifting to the Bay.
As for the Aguada Bay, high waves and the over one hour ride that the feeder boats would take to ferry passengers to the casino vessel makes it a non-option. Besides, the government has apparently not given an indication where exactly in the Bay or how far the vessels would have to anchor.
Another section of the industry recalled that this is not the first time that there has been talk in the echelons of power to move the casinos out of the River Mandovi.
“Since 2011, there have been various studies conducted on where the casinos can be shifted, including in the Mormugao Port area, Aguada Bay, Chopdem River and the Zuari River. All were rejected for various reasons, including local agitations, possibility of feeder boats capsizing, coastal security threats, and inconvenience to local fishing community,” said a source.
Srinivas Naik, who has ownership stake in the company that operates the Pride casino vessels, was the only industry representative who agreed to comment on the issue on the record.
He said, for the vessels to move to any waters would not be a problem.
“Technically, our ships are capable of anchoring at any suitable place, provided the government finds one taking into account various safety aspects of casino operations and passenger safety on the feeder boat rides,” Naik said.
