A proposal from Vijay Mallya to open a new offshore casino in the Indian state of Goa has been scrapped after the controversial Indian businessman failed to secure a government license.

Chairman for conglomerate UB Group, which has interests in alcohol, real estate and fertiliser, Mallya has reportedly filed 16 applications for a gambling license over the past decade but has now been told that no more offshore casinos are to be permitted in the former Portuguese colony.

Mallya, who is in trouble with Indian authorities over alleged financial irregularities and the non-payment of a large debt, had applied for permission for his UB Infrastructure Projects Limited subsidiary to open a new floating casino on the Mandovi River. The application claimed that the firm would ‘provide the best offshore casino’ and would meet international standards in order to draw even more high-end tourists to the area.

Goa has so far granted five offshore casino licenses with four of these in operation but has only permitted a pair of companies, M/s Delta Pleasure Cruise Company Pvt Limited and MV Pride, to serve as operators.

“We have rejected the application of a company linked to Mallya as per the August 14, 2013, cabinet decision,” Sanjiv Gadkar, Additional Home Secretary for the small western state, told The Times Of India newspaper.