An Entrepreneurial Genius

Jaydev Mody, the man who can be credited with the success of the off-shore casino industry in Goa, got candid with Planet Goa about his life’s journey, likes, dislikes and lots more. With decades of work experience behind him, Mr. Mody has a wide range of interests which include gaming, textiles, real estate, horse racing and more. In this conversation with Planet Goa, he shares insights from his life, both personal and professional, and as he does so, there are also those pearls of wisdom, which can guide one toward a fulfilling career and life. For those who love gambling; there is a special advice by the gambling maestro himself.

Planet Goa (PG): With a career starting really early – at 16 I am told - you have obviously seen the ups and downs like anyone else, am sure. Anything that you may like to talk about – the highest and the lowest, maybe?

Jaydev Mody (JM): My highs were the birth of my three girls, Anjali, Aarti & Aditi. Losing my father at a young age was one of the lowest moments of my life. That being said, I don’t let the lows get to me, because it is important to keep moving on and hustling without getting down. Otherwise you tend to get in your own way.

PG: Already well settled in the field of real estate and textiles - what made you take the plunge into the hospitality and lifestyle gaming business, especially at the time when you started, when the industry was still new and perhaps uncertain?

JM: Much like the gambling industry itself, what got me into it was pure luck. I decided to retire at the age of 50 and once I had already made that declaration, the opportunity to acquire a casino license just chanced upon me. Since I love to gamble (but always calculated gambling) – be it horse racing or cards – I couldn’t give up the offer. After studying the market and evaluating the opportunity, I saw great potential in the gambling industry and made my move.

Again, as luck would have it, at the very same time, the Goa government began to up the licensing regime and decided to issue five new licenses. We applied for one and immediately started building a vessel in Goa to operate a casino. Along the way, we acquired two additional licenses and became a formidable player in the market.