After the ministry wrote to the regulatory body Nepal Telecommunication Authority to shut down betting apps and websites within 24 hours, the authority, in coordination with internet service providers, has shut down all currently identified betting apps and websites.
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The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has shut down the ‘online’ betting app (betting app) and its related ‘website’.
After the ministry wrote to the regulatory body Nepal Telecommunications Authority to shut down the betting app and website within 24 hours, the authority has closed all the currently identified betting apps and websites in coordination with internet service providers.
The authority had started the process of shutting down betting after Communications Minister Bikram Timilsina gave instructions to shut down the betting app and its related website in a meeting with the ministry’s secretary and division heads on Sunday. Following the minister’s instructions, the ministry wrote to the Telecommunications Authority to shut down betting and the betting app and website were shut down in coordination with internet service providers.
The Council of Ministers meeting on Chaitra 13 had decided to shut down illegally operated online betting. Immediately after that, Communications Minister Dr. Timilsina took immediate ‘action’ after discussing with the ministry and related bodies.
Out of the 100 agenda items on governance reforms approved by the Council of Ministers, item no. 42 mentions that the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology will shut down betting apps and websites within 24 hours. Accordingly, the ministry, as per today's ministerial decision, had directed the Authority to immediately shut down any betting apps and websites, including those conducted through electronic means, in coordination with internet service providers. The ministry has stated in a statement that all betting apps and sites have been shut down in accordance with the same directive.
The ministry has requested not to operate or use betting apps and related websites across Nepal in a manner that is contrary to the legal provisions. It has also clarified that if anyone uses or operates betting apps and websites without authorization, strict action will be taken by the authorities in accordance with the prevailing law.
In this regard, as per Sub-section (4) of Section 125 of the Criminal Code, 2074, there is a provision that no one should be involved in or cause to be involved in betting and in case of violation, the amount used in the offence shall be confiscated as per Sub-section (6) of the same section and the person committing the offence shall be imprisoned for up to one year and fined up to Rs 10,000.
Similarly, in Sub-section (b) of Section 5 of the Advertisement (Regulation) Act, 2066, there is a provision that no advertisement shall be made on the subject of encouraging gambling or buying and selling lottery tickets not permitted under the prevailing law and if anyone commits an offence contrary to this, the offender or the person committing the offence shall be punished accordingly if there is any punishment under the prevailing law for that and if there is no such punishment, there is a provision that the offender or the person causing the offence shall be imprisoned for up to one year and a fine of Rs 10,000. If you come to know that a betting app or website is being operated or used in violation of the aforementioned legal provisions, you are requested to inform the contact person of the Authority via phone number or email.
