Kathmandu. The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MoCIT) has shut down online betting apps and its websites.

After the ministry wrote to the regulatory body Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) to shut down betting apps and websites within 24 hours, the authority in coordination with the internet service providers has blocked all the currently identified betting apps and websites.

After Minister for Communications and Information Technology Dr Bikram Timilsina directed the government to shut down the betting app and its websites, Minister for Information and Communications Dr Bikram Timilsina held a meeting with the secretaries and divisions of the ministry on Thursday. Following the minister’s directive, the ministry wrote to the Telecommunications Authority to stop betting, which led to the closure of the betting app and website in coordination with the internet service providers.

A meeting of the Council of Ministers on March 27 had decided to stop online betting. Following this, Minister for Communications and Information Technology Dr Timilsina immediately took action after holding discussions with the Ministry and bodies concerned.

Point 42 of the 100 agendas related to governance reforms approved by the Council of Ministers states that the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology will shut down betting apps and websites within 24 hours. Accordingly, the Ministry, as per the ministerial-level decision today, directed the Authority to immediately shut down any apps and websites including betting through electronic means in coordination with the Internet Service Providers. All betting apps and sites have been shut down as per the directive, the ministry said in a statement.

The Ministry has urged all not to operate and use betting apps and websites related to them throughout Nepal. “Strict action will be taken against anyone who uses or operates betting apps and websites unauthorisedly,” the statement said.

According to the sub-section (4) of Section 125 of the Civil Code, 2074 BS, anyone who violates this will be liable to one year’s imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 10,000 if the person commits the offence by forfeiting the proceeds of the offence as per Sub-section (6) of the same Section.

Similarly, Section 5 (1) (b) of the Advertising (Regulation) Act, 2066 BS also states that advertisement should not be made on gambling or encouraging the purchase and purchase of lotteries that are not permitted as per the prevailing law. If anyone comes to know about the operation or use of betting apps and websites against the mentioned legal provisions, they have been requested to inform the contact person of the Authority through phone number or email.