Nepal’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has ordered the shutdown of all online betting websites and has given authorities 24 hours to implement the restrictions. The Minister for Communications and Information Technology Dr Bikram Timilsina, instructed the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) to carry out the order with internet and mobile service providers, with the
Nepal’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has ordered the shutdown of all online betting websites and has given authorities 24 hours to implement the restrictions.
The Minister for Communications and Information Technology Dr Bikram Timilsina, instructed the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) to carry out the order with internet and mobile service providers, with the shutdown beginning right after the directive was issued. The first reports show that at least 16 betting websites were targeted and taken down in the first part of the enforcement action.
Government officials explained that the measure includes finding and blocking access to IP addresses and URLs connected to betting activity.
NTA spokesperson Min Prasad Aryal commented:
“The IP addresses of betting apps and their associated URLs must be identified. We have currently been instructed to block all suspicious websites; there is no situation where specific names have been sent.”
Additionally, operators were ordered to stop offering their services immediately, and daily monitoring requirements have also been introduced.
The initiative is part of a bigger governance reform, as authorities raised concerns connected to illegal financial transactions and capital outflow with the rise of online gambling platforms.
It’s expected that updates on enforcement action will be regularly reported to senior officials, including the Prime Minister and the Secretariat.