Taipei (XFN-ASIA) - Ma Ying-jeou, who is due to take office as president on May 20, is in favor of allowing local governments in the offshore islands to issue gaming licenses if they so choose, the Economic Daily News reported. Subject to parliament passing the necessary amendments, his administration is ready grant such licensing authority to local governments in the islands, Ma said during a visit to Penghu in the Taiwan Strait.

Goa's Mandovi river is soon to be home to what is possibly the largest floating casino in India, with Highstreet Cruises and Entertainment Pvt. Ltd, a player inthe gaming and entertainment industry, ready to launch an offshore casino in May this year. The company is also simultaneously setting up a 50-room floating hotel in Panjim to accommodate guests who come to try their luck.

An offshore casino with ’no-limits’ tables, touted as the biggest in South Asia, will open in Goa next month. Aboard a specially commissioned 70-metre long Panamenian vessel, costing USD 25 million, it will be operated by Creative Gaming Solution, a subsidiary of Mumbai-based Pan India Network Infravest Pvt Ltd (Pinipl), the promoter of the Playwin lottery. "It will be the biggest offshore casino and will be an added appeal for tourists to visit Goa,” Pinipl managing director Amar Sinha told IANS.

A leading hotel group in Goa has agreed to shift its second offshore casino from river Sal, which sparked off protest amongst local fishermen. The second offshore casino had evoked strong protest from local people due to its location. The fishermen had resented the move, alleging that the casino vessel was hindering the movement of fishing trawlers. The management of Hotel Leela agreed to shift the vessel after a meeting with the chief minister on Wednesday. “They (hotel) had agreed to shift it to a suitable location,” Goa Chief Minister Kamat told here.

Panaji: India’s second off-shore casino based in south Goa is in trouble with the locals, in no mood to accept the vessel, which is hindering the fishing trawlers. “The casino will adversely affect the livelihood of local fishermen, whose trawlers wade through the narrow river strip where the casino vessel is scheduled to be stationed,’’ Elvino D’Silva, chairman, Assolna-Velim-Cavelosim-Betul (AVCB) traditional fishermen, stated.