On Sunday, Nepal’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MoCIT) directed the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) to “immediately close [all] betting apps and websites, including any electronic betting” within 24 hours. In response, the NTA coordinated with internet service providers to disable access to the platforms.
The ban was part of a 100-point policy reform agenda under Prime Minister Balendra Shah, elected on 5 March. With a following built on social media and promises of greater transparency in governance, the 35-year-old rapper and former mayor of Kathmandu won an almost two-thirds majority, handily unseated his controversial rival, KP Sharma Oli.
Shah was sworn in on 27 March. A day later, Oli was arrested for allegedly authorising the use of deadly force during public demonstrations in Nepal last September. During the so-called “Gen-Z uprising”, police killed at least 19 people who hit the streets to rally against government corruption. They also protested a ban on social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Youtube and X, which Oli claimed had not complied with government regulations. Those bans have since been lifted.
Curtailing the surge in online gambling
All forms of gambling are illegal in Nepal, with participation considered a criminal offense. Penalties include fines of of Rs30,000 (about US$300), forfeiture of devices and jail terms ranging from three months to one year.
Despite the prohibition, the government has grown increasingly concerned about the surge in online betting, with its potential for financial and social harms, especially among young users. Citing similar risks, last year Nepal’s South Asia neighbour, India, also banned online gambling.
MoCIT has promised “strict action … against anyone who uses or operates betting apps and websites unauthorisedly”.
Marjorie Preston
Marjorie began her gaming career in 2007 and has focused on Asian gaming markets since 2020. Outside of work, she writes about travel and film and plays the drums.
Original article: https://igamingbusiness.com/gaming/nepal-shuts-down-online-gaming-industry/
