Nepal releases new ultimatum to casinos
The government of Nepal has renewed the ultimatum urging casino operators to update tax payments.
Nepal.- Last week the government of Nepal warned casino operators to pay new taxes or close their venues, but received no answer. As a result, the Department of Tourism has issued an official statement urging the five tax-defaulting casinos to either pay what they owe within 35 days or face legal action.
As reported this week by local media and World Casino Directory, the Nepalese Department of Tourism confirmed the warning, with officials reportedly stating that if the casinos and mini-casinos fail to “clear the dues, the government will take stern action against them as per the law.”
As established by the Casino Regulation law approved in 2013, operators must contribute to the country’s finance structure with a Rs20 million (US$307,800) fee to obtain a casino operating licence. Furthermore, companies must pay an annual fee equal to 50 per cent of the operating licence tax per year. As well as this, operators were also required to pay an annual royalty.
Three casinos in Nepal, including Casino Royale, Casino Rad and Casino Venus have been allowed to continue operations thanks to an interim order from the Supreme Court, but now operations are threatened by the Nepalese government, which had previously shut down several salons in 2014 when operators did not comply with the Casino Regulation 2013.
