Goa

One gaming operator to watch in 2021 will be India’s Delta Corp., whose stock got a mid-month bump in December after it announced it had received approval in principle to build an integrated resort on shore in Goa.

Hotel occupancy in the Indian state of Goa has risen to about 80 percent in recent days on a influx of last-minute arrivals, with visitors choosing to drive to the area and booking with little advance notice, hoteliers say.

India’s land-based gaming industry is taking a step forward with news Delta Corp has been given permission in principle for an integrated resort in Goa.

Delta Corp shares rose more than 3 percent in trading in India after the operator announced it has won approval to build an integrated resort in Goa.

The initiative by the state government of Goa to reduce the casino licensing fees for local casinos due to the long mandatory period of Covid-19 closures is facing intense local opposition, including from the rest of the business community which has not been provided such relief measures.

India’s Delta Corp reported its third quarter results on Monday and, since its casinos were closed throughout the period by the Covid-19 pandemic, the numbers were appropriately grim.

Despite being given the green light to reopen from November 1, Goa’s casinos are likely to be slow off the starting line for numerous reasons, including the fact that the state government has not issued needed guidelines and that the lack of tourism is likely to make operations unprofitable for the time being.

All casinos in Goa have been greenlighted to reopen at 50 percent capacity from November 1 as measures to contain the Covid-19 pandemic are easing in many parts of India.

Delta Corp shares surged after it said its casino in Sikkim would reopen from Nov. 1, whilst casinos in Goa are also expected to reopen from the same date.

Delta Corp shares surged after it said its casino in Sikkim would reopen from Nov. 1, whilst casinos in Goa are also expected to reopen from the same date.