As a mark of protest, around 25 different organizations gathered under the banner of Aam Aurat Admi Against Gambling (AAAG), on Gandhi Jayanti held protests on Mandovi river bank where off shore casinos are anchored. "If you allow gambling tourism to enter, the family tourism will exit through windows," Aanand Madgaonkar, AAAG treasurer, told PTI at the protest site.
He said that various organizations are protesting against all kind of gambling in the state and wants Goa to be like pre-1992 when entire state had no casinos. "It began with casinos in hotels and now these off-shore casinos have made beeline in the state. We are going Las Vegas and Macau way," Madgaonkar said.
Goa is the only Indian state to allow off-shore casinos with two vessels loaded with the gambling machines already permitted by the state government.