Government issues 12-point directive to tighten casino regulation

KATHMANDU: The government has issued a 12-point directive aimed at bringing casinos under further legal regulation.

The Department of Tourism under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has emphasised that all casinos currently in operation must fully comply with the Anti‑Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism Act and all its provisions.

The Department has sought full compliance with the directives issued to casino operators and the Directives Related to Preventing Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorist Activities, and has reminded operators that trading in foreign currency without obtaining permission from Nepal Rastra Bank is not allowed.

Details in accordance with the Casino Regulations, 2082, and the directives issued by the Department of Tourism to casino operators regarding the prevention of money laundering and financing of terrorist activities must be submitted regularly to the Department.

The guidelines state that casino bettors’ customer identification system and biometric details must be updated as prescribed and made available to the Department on request, and that all activities on casino premises must be recorded on CCTV, with recordings kept secure for at least six months.

It is prohibited to operate a casino by making agreements with third parties or by any other means, and it is completely forbidden to operate a casino at any other location except in authorised premises.

Before paying the amount won by a punter, profit tax should be promptly deducted from the amount won by the player in accordance with prevailing law. After deducting the profit tax, the licensed company must immediately send the tax deduction certificate to the concerned Inland Revenue Office and also provide this information to the Department.

Any casino betting conducted over the internet or through online means has been prohibited. Sufficient security must be guaranteed both inside and outside the casino and hotel premises.

The guideline states that immediate legal action will be taken if deficiencies are found during monitoring of casino risk in accordance with the Expounding of Immediate Reformative Activities for Nepal's Exit from Grey List, 2082.

(With inputs from RSS)