Casinos in the Indian state of Goa have not led to a rise in criminal activity, according to the state’s Chief Minister.
On Wednesday, CM Laxmikant Parsekar delivered a written reply to a query by Goa’s Legislative Assembly regarding the impact of the state’s five floating casinos and 11 land-based gaming venues on the state’s crime rate. Parsekar noted that “no such complaints have been received by the home department.”
Goa Police official stats for 2015 showed the crime rate falling 31.2% from 2014. Theft cases were down 48%, ‘heinous’ crimes were 26% lower and crimes against women fell nearly 20%.
Goa ranked second among all Indian states and union territories in the number of crimes committed by and against tourists but tourism is Goa’s primary industry, and thus it attracts significantly more foreigners than other Indian states.