The Government of Nepal has introduced new regulatory provisions increasing the minimum paid-up capital requirements for casino operators, along with updated operational standards. The revised Casino Regulation, issued on Monday by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, classifies casinos into two tiers—large and small—and stipulates higher capital thresholds for both.
Under the new rules, operators of large casinos must maintain a minimum paid-up capital of Rs 300 million, while small casinos are required to hold at least Rs 200 million. Existing operators with capital below these thresholds must comply with the new requirements by mid-April 2026.
Large casinos are defined as those offering both manual games involving dealers or spinners and electronic gaming via modern machines. Small casinos are limited to games played solely through electronic equipment. This is the first time Nepal has formally classified casinos by operational type. Previously, regulations only required Rs 250 million in capital for general casino operations and Rs 150 million for those exclusively using electronic games.
The updated regulation also expands the eligibility for hosting casinos. While the previous law permitted operations only in five-star hotels or equivalent deluxe resorts, the new provisions allow casinos in four-star or higher-rated hotels and resorts. However, only one casino may operate within a single hotel or resort, though operators are allowed to run multiple casinos at different locations.
Foreign joint ventures are permitted to operate casinos, subject to approval from the relevant ministry. All operators and shareholders must be over 18 years of age.
The rules also introduce specific licensing and financial compliance measures. To obtain a license, casino companies must submit an application to the Department of Tourism along with written consent from the host hotel or resort.
Licensing fees are set at Rs 30 million for large casinos and Rs 15 million for small casinos. In addition, both types must pay royalties and deposit a security guarantee, secured via a Class-A commercial bank guarantee valid for 14 months.
Application fees are fixed at Rs 1.5 million for large casinos and Rs 1 million for small ones. Renewal fees stand at Rs 15 million and Rs 7.5 million respectively. Operators managing multiple casinos must pay the corresponding renewal fee for each additional establishment.
Further, casinos operating within five kilometers of international borders are subject to special provisions, tightening oversight in sensitive areas.
Read: Tourism Bill 2024 Prohibits a Company from Operating More than One Casino
