Nepalese Rapper Prime Minister Blocks Access to Gambling Sites

Nepal has a new prime minister, one of its youngest. The 35-year-old former rapper Balendra Shah stepped into office on Friday, March 27, announcing an important change from the get-go – online betting apps and websites need to go.

Balen has issued a block on access to Internet gambling, one of his campaign promises and part of a broader reform agenda aimed at tightening oversight and improving governance. The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology will now have to administer the new directive and ensure that operators are blocked in the country.

While gambling is illegal in Nepal, the prime minister is now aiming to direct the country’s resources at stopping overseas operators that have continued to target locals despite the ban. The move comes amid growing concerns about the rise of online betting and its potential financial and social impact, particularly among younger users.

The prime minister issued a 24-hour window to block access, highlighting his desire to get quick results. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are tasked with carrying out this directive and preventing Nepalese citizens from accessing gambling websites.

However, how effective the measure will be depends on how quickly authorities can identify illegal websites and issue further requests for ISP blocks.

For their part, illegal websites, especially those intent on continuing to target players, are likely to adapt by shifting domains and using mirror sites or other workarounds.