[NEWS]Nepal shuts down online gaming in the country

[cryptomaniac_xxx]

Not everyone has that criminal mindset of indulging in an activity that’s already banned. Some people have reputations to protect. So they’ll likely not indulge in gambling because they know their reputation would be dragged along. But you’re right about one thing, banning something, especially something that some people has already accepted as a source of income wouldn’t really solve the problem of addiction or irresponsible gambling, cos people would still gamble regardless.

Everything depends on how the government that imposes the ban provides solutions. If the imposition of a ban or restriction is not accompanied by solutions, what happens is just gambling that could possibly be worse. This is because those who are already addicted will definitely find a way to continue gambling. If they cannot do it online, they will look for offline gambling, even if it is illegal.

It's just weird though that Nepal government will impose it without any solutions or implementations. For sure they have studied this case and that they finally decided to implement it as not to affect their population with online gambling.

And if I'm not mistaken, if we talk about crypto, they have imposed a ban on Bitcoin as well. Although from what I read before, they are also rich in electricity and abundant of hydro electricity. But that is for another discussion.

Also they might take this into consideration:

Months after India banned online gambling, a surge of gambling apps and online platforms has surfaced in Nepal - operating freely despite strict national prohibitions on gambling. These platforms, often registered overseas, are aggressively targeting Nepali users through flashy social media campaigns filmed at iconic locations and offering large cash bonuses to attract new customers.

https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/illegal-online-casinos-flood-nepal-after-indias-gambling-ban

[swogerino]

I just saw this article while looking for some news about gambling. According to the article, the new prime minister of Nepal shut down the online gaming industry in their country. From what I understand, gambling was already banned in the country before, but now, the new prime minister has ordered telecom companies in the country to disable access to gaming/gambling platforms(I guess before it was just banned, but not ISP banned from telecom companies). Once the ban is implemented, the only way to access the gambling platforms is through a VPN or other means to bypass the restrictions. According to the article, anyone who is caught breaking the law could be fined, their devices will be forfeited, and face jail time from 3 months to 1 year.

Anyone from Nepal here? would love to hear your opinion.

On Sunday, Nepal’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MoCIT) directed the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) to “immediately close [all] betting apps and websites, including any electronic betting” within 24 hours. In response, the NTA coordinated with internet service providers to disable access to the platforms.

The ban was part of a 100-point policy reform agenda under Prime Minister Balendra Shah, elected on 5 March. With a following built on social media and promises of greater transparency in governance, the 35-year-old rapper and former mayor of Kathmandu won an almost two-thirds majority, handily unseated his controversial rival, KP Sharma Oli.

Shah was sworn in on 27 March. A day later, Oli was arrested for allegedly authorising the use of deadly force during public demonstrations in Nepal last September. During the so-called “Gen-Z uprising”, police killed at least 19 people who hit the streets to rally against government corruption. They also protested a ban on social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Youtube and X, which Oli claimed had not complied with government regulations. Those bans have since been lifted.

Curtailing the surge in online gambling
All forms of gambling are illegal in Nepal, with participation considered a criminal offense. Penalties include fines of of Rs30,000 (about US$300), forfeiture of devices and jail terms ranging from three months to one year.

Despite the prohibition, the government has grown increasingly concerned about the surge in online betting, with its potential for financial and social harms, especially among young users. Citing similar risks, last year Nepal’s South Asia neighbour, India, also banned online gambling.

MoCIT has promised “strict action … against anyone who uses or operates betting apps and websites unauthorisedly”.

I am not from Nepal yet I live in a country where a massive shutdown to gambling like this happened. At first everybody was shocked because they threated up to 20 years in jail for illegal gambling activities and people who facilitated this activity up to 20 years in prison while people who took part in them up to 3-5 years in prison time. Then some months passed, some ISP blocked only through DNS and if you changed to google DNS you could still access outside sites like bet365 and alike. Even more time passed and people were playing illegaly in every club or lotto club. Bottom line is they just want to take away attention from some bigger corruption issues most of the time when they do this.

[348Judah]

I don't know why some of our governments are being inconsiderate that they have to deny people they are right to having fun, I don't know where it has been stated that to gamble is an offense or a crime to do, why are we having leaders that are not considerate to this extent to consider the needs of the people and Grant everyone they required freedom they needed to enjoy their lives, or are we giving birth to new set of leaders that will only rulers and fill the responsibility of being a truly leader being a good example.

[Maslate]

I don't know why some of our governments are being inconsiderate that they have to deny people they are right to having fun, I don't know where it has been stated that to gamble is an offense or a crime to do, why are we having leaders that are not considerate to this extent to consider the needs of the people and Grant everyone they required freedom they needed to enjoy their lives, or are we giving birth to new set of leaders that will only rulers and fill the responsibility of being a truly leader being a good example.

It’s mainly because they can’t control it. Since they see the overall effect as negative, they decide to ban it. That’s why they order telecom providers to block casino sites.

But I’m not sure if that will be strictly implemented. There are still a lot of crypto casinos that accept users even if they are using VPNs. That’s actually one of the advantages of crypto casinos, less strict KYC in some cases. So for sure, gamblers aren’t really that worried. They can easily find ways to continue playing and enjoying it.

[Cryptoprincess101]

I don't know why some of our governments are being inconsiderate that they have to deny people they are right to having fun, I don't know where it has been stated that to gamble is an offense or a crime to do, why are we having leaders that are not considerate to this extent to consider the needs of the people and Grant everyone they required freedom they needed to enjoy their lives, or are we giving birth to new set of leaders that will only rulers and fill the responsibility of being a truly leader being a good example.

I don't even know what these leaders feel like, a God? it's annoying to know that a government can just wake up and stop people from doing what they find fun in. If gambling is becoming a problem, then they should hold those who are responsible and not place a total ban. Gambling is not bad; it depends on the approach of the individual who is gambling. Are they going to tell me that gambling is the major problem they're facing in the country? obviously there will be those who will bypass the IPs using VPNs. They will leave to proffer solutions to the important things that is affecting the country and begin to focus on things that are unnecessary.