Draft amendment to Gambling Act finalised
KATHMANDU, JUN 12 -
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) has finalised the draft amendment to the Gambling Act with provisions of stringent action against Nepalis indulging in gambling in casinos. The draft act, which will replace the Gambling Act-2020, provisions one-year imprisonment to Nepali gamblers.
Until now, Nepalis arrested in casinos can get released by paying a fine of Rs 100. The Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) had directed the government to amend the existing act after a series of cases of Nepalis entering casinos surfaced. As per the draft act, Nepalis are not allowed in casinos.
Home ministry’s ‘unilateral’ move to draft the ACT has irked the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoTCA). Tourism ministry says as casinos are considered tourism products, any regulatory changes should be made in coordination with it. “The draft was forwarded to law ministry without informing us,” said Ranjan Krishna Aryal, chief of MoTCA’s legal division.
However, Sudhir Kumar Shah, spokesperson for the home ministry, says they will seek tourism ministry’s suggestion, if required, after the draft comes back from law ministry.
MoTCA is currently working on the guidelines for casinos with conditional entry for Nepalis. If the new Gambling Act prohibits Nepalis from entering casino, the guideline will be ineffective.
As per the draft, casinos have to renew their existing licenses as per the new act within six months after it comes into force. And, they will get licenses for a maximum period of five years. They have to renew the licenses one month prior to their expiry.
Even though it is not directly mentioned in the draft, four-star hotels could host casinos now onwards. The draft act says people seeking to get casino license should present permission letters from four-star hotels. As of now, only five-star hotels are issued casino license.
As per the draft act, casino operators have to keep records of every person entering casinos for gambling. It has also asked casino operators to provide details of individuals who win and won lose.
Source: Kantipur
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) has finalised the draft amendment to the Gambling Act with provisions of stringent action against Nepalis indulging in gambling in casinos. The draft act, which will replace the Gambling Act-2020, provisions one-year imprisonment to Nepali gamblers.
Until now, Nepalis arrested in casinos can get released by paying a fine of Rs 100. The Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) had directed the government to amend the existing act after a series of cases of Nepalis entering casinos surfaced. As per the draft act, Nepalis are not allowed in casinos.
Home ministry’s ‘unilateral’ move to draft the ACT has irked the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoTCA). Tourism ministry says as casinos are considered tourism products, any regulatory changes should be made in coordination with it. “The draft was forwarded to law ministry without informing us,” said Ranjan Krishna Aryal, chief of MoTCA’s legal division.
However, Sudhir Kumar Shah, spokesperson for the home ministry, says they will seek tourism ministry’s suggestion, if required, after the draft comes back from law ministry.
MoTCA is currently working on the guidelines for casinos with conditional entry for Nepalis. If the new Gambling Act prohibits Nepalis from entering casino, the guideline will be ineffective.
As per the draft, casinos have to renew their existing licenses as per the new act within six months after it comes into force. And, they will get licenses for a maximum period of five years. They have to renew the licenses one month prior to their expiry.
Even though it is not directly mentioned in the draft, four-star hotels could host casinos now onwards. The draft act says people seeking to get casino license should present permission letters from four-star hotels. As of now, only five-star hotels are issued casino license.
As per the draft act, casino operators have to keep records of every person entering casinos for gambling. It has also asked casino operators to provide details of individuals who win and won lose.
Source: Kantipur
