Nepal’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MoCIT) has officially ordered the immediate closure of all online betting applications and websites. Following a direct mandate from the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA), internet service providers were given a 24-hour window to disable access to all electronic betting platforms. This swift regulatory action is part of a broader 100-point policy reform initiated by the newly elected Prime Minister, Balendra Shah, who secured a significant majority on promises of transparency and governance reform.
The ban addresses growing government concerns regarding the social and financial impacts of digital gambling, particularly its influence on younger demographics. While all forms of gambling were already technically illegal in Nepal, the new administration is intensifying enforcement, with penalties for participants including fines of up to RS30,000, device forfeiture, and potential jail time. This move aligns Nepal with neighboring India, which implemented similar restrictions last year, and marks a significant shift in the country’s approach to regulating digital activities following the lifting of previous social media bans.
