Gov’t shuts down 2 Indian onshore casinos, but casino vessels could get more time to relocate

Expired five-star category certificates have caused two onshore casinos in India to shut down.

On Thursday, the state government of Goa ordered the closure of Grand 7 Casino at O Hotel in the town of Candolim, and the Casino Pearl at the Bogmallo Beach Resort in Bogmallo.

The Times of India reported that the validity of the five-star category certificates for these two hotels have already expired. According to the state home department, licensed operators can only operate games and machines at a hotel that has a valid five-star certification.

According to the order obtained by the media outlet, the casino operators were “directed to stop the casino operations with immediate effect until such time fresh five star classification certificate is produced before the government.”