Chan Min Ching, chair of Waldo Dynasty Entertainment, which operates the Casino Waldo in Kathmandu, was arrested by Nepal police for gambling fraud at the venue.A...
Nepal revamps casino rules: ownership, access and limits
Under the proposed Integrated Tourism Bill, Nepal shares a new set of casino rules, starting from investment limits to location restrictions.
While licensed gambling is permitted only for foreign nationals, the Nepal government is now reducing the allowable foreign ownership in casino ventures from 90% to 49%. However, the foreign investment reduction doesn’t hint at local entry ban removal.
Moreover, the government came up with location restrictions as well. While casinos currently need to be at least 3 km from international borders, the new law wants to push that back to 5 km with some exceptions for existing ones. Operators say this kind of change can seriously harm the business.
Smaller casino setups in hotels will also be under the target. Hotels must now own at least 10% of any casino on their premises. And each license will cover just one location, which is a big change for companies running multiple sites.
The bill is also tightening up on transparency, safety standards, and tax compliance. Licenses won’t be transferable, and casinos near religious sites will be banned. Annual fees are steep, and non-renewals within 60 days will lead to automatic cancellations.
Operators have one year to adjust to the new 49% foreign ownership limit.
Nepal's Department of Tourism issued new compliance obligations for casino operators, which include transaction monitoring and customer verification.The Directive on...
