Kathmandu's Casino Royale closed by Police, alleged breach of license regulations

Kathmandu based casino, the Casino Royale, which resumed operations in September, was forcefully shut Friday in a police raid backed by orders of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) after tourism officials charged that the casino was operating illegally.

The casino, located in Hotel Yak and Yeti premises, was closed by police in an operation that led to a brief scuffle between officers and casino workers.

In April the government shut all 10 casinos after their failure to clear outstanding dues and renew licenses as set out under new guidelines. But the Casino Royale had resumed operation after clearing dues as well as receiving the go-ahead from the Supreme Court.

Bhabishwor Aryal, general manager of the Casino Royale, told local media that police came "all of a sudden and closed the casino".

Aryal said the casino had resumed operation based on the stay order issued by the Supreme Court. He said the casino had been clearing dues by instalment.

But Umakant Parajuli, joint secretary of MoCTCA, told local media the Casino Royale had not renewed its license in line with the new Casino Regulation introduced earlier in 2014.

"The Supreme Court did not advise casinos to resume operation without renewing license," Parajuli was quoted as saying. He said this was the reason that led to the request by the home ministry to close the operations.

Laxman Tiwari, president of Nepal Independent Hotel Workers Union, accused the government of closing the casino with giving prior notice and that it had been clearing its dues. "The casino was preparing to renew license as per the new guidelines," he said.

Casino Royale had resumed its operations from September 23 after receiving the go-ahead from the Supreme Court two days earlier.

Casino Royale employed around 750 people, with Tiwari saying more than 10,000 workers had lost their jobs since the government closed down the 10 casinos. 

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