Nepal has moved decisively to shut down online betting, with the government ordering all internet and mobile service providers to block access to betting apps and websites within 24 hours. The directive, issued by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology to the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA), targets at least 16 platforms for immediate closure. Land-based casinos along the Indian border remain unaffected.
Government Orders Swift Enforcement
The ban is part of Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s 100-point Governance Reform Agenda, aimed at addressing illegal financial flows and youth gambling addiction. The Ministry instructed the NTA to coordinate directly with ISPs to ensure compliance, warning that violations could lead to legal action.
Officials emphasized that operating, facilitating, or advertising betting platforms violates Criminal Code 2074 and the Advertisement Regulation Act, with penalties including confiscation of illegal earnings, fines up to Rs 10,000, and imprisonment up to one year.
Reasons Behind the Crackdown
The decision addresses long-standing concerns over the social and financial impact of online betting in Nepal. Authorities flagged issues such as:
- Youth gambling addiction
- Financial losses and family strain
- Illegal financial transactions contributing to capital flight and pressure on foreign reserves
The government had previously directed the NTA to curb virtual transactions related to betting, noting that over 200 websites were operating openly before the formal Cabinet directive.
Implementation and Challenges
The NTA instructed ISPs to identify IP addresses and URLs of betting platforms, but service providers reported confusion due to the absence of a specific platform list. Despite this, initial enforcement focused on 16 major betting sites.
A daily monitoring and reporting system has been established, with updates submitted directly to the Prime Minister and Secretariat. This represents Nepal’s first major effort at rigorous oversight of digital platform restrictions, following similar recent actions against cryptocurrency and hyper-networking sites.
Public Reporting Encouraged
Citizens are urged to report any illegal betting activity through the NTA’s reporting system, reinforcing the government’s commitment to immediate and broad enforcement.
The swift implementation highlights Nepal’s new administration prioritizing social and economic safeguards in its digital and financial governance.
