Govt to bring casino industry in line under new Act

Monday 4th of June 2018

With the Nepalese gaming industry expected to boom, the government has announced it will be submitting a new casino bill aimed at encouraging foreign investment into the sector, and bring its existing casinos in line, local media reports.

“We will be submitting a draft to the Cabinet next week for its approval in principle to prepare a Casino Bill 2018,” said tourism ministry spokesman Ghanshyam Upadhyay, quoted by Kathmandu Post.

“The Law Ministry has given its okay to a preliminary draft. After the Cabinet’s approval, we will begin to draft the bill. The move to introduce the Casino Act is to enhance investment and employment in the industry which is expected to grow quickly,” he said.

While the new Act is touted to increase foreign investment in the industry, insiders with knowledge of the matter said the sole objective of the new act is to bring existing casinos in line as they have been operating freely without paying taxes and royalties to the government.

This is due to an interim order from the Supreme Court in 2016 that essentially has allowed operators to continue operating whilst only paying a portion of what they owe.

“The most complicated matter for the department is that it cannot collect taxes and royalties as it has scrapped their licenses. In the legal sense, the casinos are operating unlawfully. But, we have to honor the court’s ruling,” said an official from the Department of Tourism.

The new Casino Act will supersede the Casino Regulation 2013 and also the court’s orders, said officials.

“It will also regulate the casinos in a more managed way and protect the investment of foreign investors.”

According to the recently released budget statement, there are seven casinos operating in the nation. However, there are three others still running as a result of the court order.