The Indian state of Goa has become the latest jurisdiction to order a temporary shut down of casinos as part of a wide-range of measures announced by the government on Saturday to combat the spread of COVID-19.
All casinos, education institutes, gyms, spas, pubs, clubs, public swimming pools and theaters in Goa will remain closed until 31 March 2020, although restaurants and malls can remain open according to local gaming industry website Glaws.
The government had previously been planning to write to Goa’s casino operators to recommend various precautions but instead decided to close the industry down altogether after the pandemic escalated across the globe over the weekend. Goa is home to seven off-shore “floating” casinos and nine on-shore casinos.
Goa’s casino closure edict comes just a few days after gaming conference SPiCE, originally scheduled to be held from 25 to 27 March at the Goa Marriott Resort & Spa, was cancelled due to the federal government cancelling all foreign national visas.