Goa Casinos Unlikely to Open Anytime Soon as Govt Extends Lockdown Till May 24

As the country braces for the full impact of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the casino operators have come to terms with what is likely to be an extended business closure.

In the wake of consistently increasing COVID-19 cases, the Goa government has extended the statewide lockdown by another two weeks, i.e., till 7 AM on May 24. Goa has been on curfew mode since April 29, and all non-essential services, including hotels, restaurants, entertainment parks, bars, and casinos, have been ordered to remain shut. Under the new orders, non-residents entering Goa will have to carry a COVID-19 negative or a vaccination certificate.

Not just Goa, even the casinos in Sikkim, the only other state in India that legally permits casinos, have closed down after the state government imposed prohibitory orders under section 144 of the CrPC. A night curfew from 5 PM to 9 AM has been imposed in the state till May 16.

The extended closure will have a dampening effect on the financials of the casino industry. India`s biggest casino operator Delta Corp has had to close down all of its casinos in both states, resulting in its stock price dropping over 3.50% in the last five trading sessions.

Indefinite Lockdown On the Cards

On Thursday, Goa reported its highest daily tally of 3,869 positive COVID-19 cases in a single day. The next day, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced the government’s decision to extend the statewide curfew till May 23.

Talking to media following a video-conferenced meeting with MLAs, CM Sawant underlined the state’s COVID situation – “The positivity rate and death rate are increasing in the state. There is no shortage of oxygen and medicines in the state.”

The Goa government had imposed a night curfew on April 21, as part of which casinos had to remain closed from 10 PM to 6 AM. Goa CM Sawant subsequently announced a four-day weekend lockdown from April 29 to May 3, later extending it by a week, up to May 10.

Despite government efforts, the COVID-19 graph continues to rise in the coastal state. On May 9, Goa reported 67 deaths, hitting the new single-day death toll while reporting 31,875 active COVID-19 cases.

Meanwhile, casinos in Sikkim have been ordered shut as well. On May 5, the government imposed section 144 of the CrPC in the state, announcing broader restrictions till May 16 and a night curfew from 5 PM to 9 AM. State borders have been sealed, and inter-district travel has also been restricted.

Needless to say, the COVID-19 situation in India has blown out of proportion, and we may well be looking at a prolonged, indefinite shutdown of casino facilities across Goa and Sikkim.