Nepal Orders Betting Apps and Websites to Close

(AsiaGameHub) –   Nepal has mandated a rapid closure of online betting platforms. The directive was issued via an online government statement, granting authorities a 24-hour deadline to take action.

---

Good to Know

• Nepal instructed its telecommunications regulator to block betting apps and websites within a 24-hour timeframe.
• Internet service providers are anticipated to assist in restricting access.
• The directive was issued shortly after a new prime minister assumed office.

---

Nepal Mandates Immediate Closure

In an online statement released Sunday, the Nepalese government directed the Nepal Telecommunications Authority to “immediately” shut down betting apps and websites, encompassing all forms of electronic wagering, within 24 hours. The regulator is slated to collaborate with internet service providers nationwide.

The timing is significant. The order was issued mere days following the swearing-in of Balendra Shah, a 35-year-old former rapper and Kathmandu mayor, who became Nepal’s youngest prime minister on March 27 after his Rastriya Swatantra Party secured a decisive victory.

Tensions had been mounting. In November 2025, the Himalayan Times documented a “proliferation of gambling apps and online platforms” in Nepal, noting they were “functioning without restriction”.

The broader region has similarly been strengthening regulations. Last August, neighboring India approved legislation prohibiting online real-money gaming, effective October 1 of that year..