Nepal Bans Online Betting Apps and Websites

Kathmandu, March 30, 2026, Nepal has officially shut down online betting apps and websites across the country. The move happened fast within 24 hours of the government's order.

Nepal's Ministry of Communications and Information Technology directed the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) to block all online betting apps within 24 hours.

The directive was issued during a meeting chaired by Minister for Communication and Information Technology Dr. Bikram Timilsina, with ministry secretaries and division heads present.

After the Ministry's direction, the NTA closed the apps and related websites in coordination with internet service providers.

The government gave a clear reason. Officials argued the decision was taken to stop illegal financial transactions and control capital flight money leaving the country through these platforms.

The shutdown is part of the new government's 100-point governance reform agenda, which included a specific provision to fully close all betting apps and websites within 24 hours.

A cabinet meeting held on March 27 first decided to close the online betting apps in Nepal.

Two days later, on March 29, the Ministry formally ordered the NTA to act.

The timing also lines up with a political change at the top. Balendra Shah a 35-year-old former rapper and mayor of Kathmandu was sworn in as Nepal's youngest prime minister on March 27, following a landslide victory for the Rastriya Swatantra Party.

The betting ban appears to be one of the new government's first concrete moves.

All forms of online gambling and betting are prohibited in Nepal under Section 125(1) of the National Criminal (Penal) Code, 2074

But enforcement was loose.

Just last November, the Himalayan Times had reported a surge of gambling apps and online platforms operating freely in Nepal.

So while the law existed, the apps kept running — until now.

NTA's Assistant Spokesperson Dr. Pradip Paudyal confirmed that steps were already underway to block the apps, with operators being asked to follow the directive.

Internet service providers across Nepal have been brought in to make sure the platforms stay blocked.

Not really. Neighboring India passed a bill to ban online real-money gaming in August last year.

Nepal's decision fits into a broader pattern across South Asia of governments stepping in to regulate or ban online gambling.