Nepal eases on casino restrictions

The Nepal government has decided to relax on casino restrictions set up in local regulations from 2013, allowing them to work closer to international borders.

Nepal.- Casinos in Nepal will get a little boost as the government considers easing up on restrictions. According to local media, the authorities have decided to expand the industry’s reach through regulation changes.

As reported by the Kathmandu Post, the government decided in a recent Cabinet meeting to amend Casino Regulation 2013. That way, casinos and electronic gaming parlours may operate just three kilometres away from international borders, instead of five. 

“The government has shown flexibility by allowing casinos to operate at a distance of up to 3 kilometres from international borders in the context of the upcoming Visit Nepal Year 2020 campaign,” they quoted Ghanshyam Upadhyaya, spokesperson for the Ministry of Tourism, as saying.

“There is no logic in restricting casinos within a certain area or distance,” an official told the Kathmandu Post. “The key requirement is to monitor them properly,” he added.

Last year’s push

“We will bring the Casino Act, but not separately. We are currently discussing the issue. As per the plan, the casino law will come out as an annexe to the Tourism Act that the government is currently drafting,” Tourism Secretary Krishna Prasad Devkota said back in August 2018. Casinos are currently under the Casino Regulation 2013, but the government believes that it is necessary to pass a new scheme.

After further consideration, the local government decided to push a new Tourism Act that would update its tourism legislation, including the gaming sector. It would set new regulations regarding royalties, licence fees and taxes and would also set a stringent ban on locals and favour foreign investments.

According to the Tourism Minister, casinos would have to pay royalties in order to operate or they won’t be allowed in Nepal.