The state cabinet’s move to redefine the term “off-shore casino” in the Goa Gambling Act will pave the way to casino vessels operating in all rivers across Goa.

That was the claims made by opposition party Goa Suraksha Manch (GSM), which alleged that the current Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government wants to make the state “the gambling, drugs and prostitution capital of the country.”

“The Cabinet decision has to be converted into an amendment to the Goa Gambling Act. But since the elections are [around] the corner, and there may be no more session of the assembly and this is the main reason why the government took the decision hurriedly,” GSM President Anand Shirodkar was quoted by Herald Goa.

In the amendment, an “off-shore casino” may be allowed to operate not just on the Mandovi River, but also on Terekhol, Chapora, Mapusa, Cumbharjua channel, Zuari and Sal. Currently, there are five floating casinos operating on the Mandovie river. The fleet of berth casinos, however, only have until March 31, 2017, to find a new location to call home. There had been offers of relocating to the Zuari river near Chicalim, located about 3km from the Dabolim international airport, but the casino owners have yet to sign on.