Goa to pull down ‘unauthorised’ hoardings of Sri Lankan casinos

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant assured the House on Tuesday that hoardings of Sri Lankan casinos promoting online gaming will be pulled down in the coastal state.

"Our advertising policy will be finalised soon, and we will act with police and the home department (to ensure compliance)," Sawant said. "In the first phase, we will shut down or break the hoardings. We will not allow such advertising. Govt is not earning anything from it."

Sawant said an FIR will be registered by Porvorim police in connection with such a hoarding put up on the banks of the Mandovi.
"Sri Lankan casinos are coming to Goa and advertising here. We had made an official complaint to the home undersecretary, but he did nothing," Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai said.

"We sent a reminder in Oct 2022. He sent a letter to the DGP to take action. The DGP told him there are two hoardings, but said casinos are not mentioned on them. But the hoardings had images such as playing cards," he added.
Such hoardings have appeared again along the way to Mopa and Dabolim airports, Sardesai said.

The chief minister assured the House that he will act against such hoardings even if casinos are not mentioned on them. Sawant further said it is obvious from the featured websites that casinos are being advertised.