To Goanet -
The problem with making Goa a hub for casinos and gaming is that it will
attract the worst and most criminal elements to it. (If it hasn't already - why
is
Mr Mody walking around with gun-toting bodyguards?) Had it been
one or two land-based casinos buried in some corner of a 5-star
hotel, that would have been one thing. But Goa seems well on its way
to becoming a hub, supporting multiple floating as well as land-based
operations.
We are playing with fire.
The Indian underworld has most likely already set up shop. If not, it will
soon come in, rest assured. And once this casino monster becomes big
and powerful, there will be no stopping it. There will also be space opening
up for auxiliary industries (think escort services, high end call girls etc).
Recall how the mob took over Las Vegas once (see "Casino," starring Robert
de Niro, for one adaptation of the story). It took a major FBI operation to
put these guys out of business and to clean up Vegas. No such clean-up
will every happen in Goa/India.
Manohar-bab did not start this. But he has the chance and the mandate
now to permanently kick casinos out of Goa. The most charitable spin I
can put on his latest sops for casinos is that he wants to quickly generate
revenue and put it to work on the other goodies he has promised Goans.
My response to that: you cannot think of revenue in isolation. You have
to think about the consequences, especially long-term effects of short-term
expedients. This is a losing gamble (pun intended).
My hope is that Goans will call or write to him with their views.
r
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Protect Goa's natural beauty
Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve
Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php
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