Insight NEPAL
LIVE AND LET DIE
Casino Royale, which resumed operation in September 2014, was forcefully closed on November 22 on the orders of the Nepalese Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA). Police closed the casino located in Hotel Yak & Yeti premises at around 1:30 pm. MoHA instructed Nepal Police to shut the casino after the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) claimed that the casino was being operated illegally.
There was a brief scuffle between police and workers of the casino before police ultimately closed the casino. "Police came all of a sudden and closed the casino. We had resumed operation based on the stay order issued by the Supreme Court," explained Bhabishwor Aryal, General Manager of Casino Royale. "We had been clearing dues on installment basis."
The government had shut down all 10 casinos earlier in April after they failed to clear outstanding dues and renew licenses as per new guidelines. However, only Casino Royale had resume operation after clearing dues and getting a go-ahead from the Supreme Court.
MoCTCA officials, however, say the casino was being operated illegally as it had not renewed its license based on new Casino Regulation which was introduced earlier in 2014. However, Laxman Tiwari, President of the Nepal Independent Hotel Workers Union, said the government shut the casino even though it was clearing dues. "The casino was preparing to renew its license as per the new guidelines. But police shut closed it down without giving prior notice," he added. Casino Royale had resumed its operation from September 23 after it "received a go-ahead from the Supreme Court on September 21".
"We got a letter, which said the casino was operated illegally, from the tourism ministry in the morning. In the afternoon, police came and shut the casino forcefully," Mr. Aryal said.
Casino Royale has been providing employment to around 750 people. “The government action has rendered us jobless. More than 10,000 workers have become jobless due to the government decision to close the 10 casinos," Mr. Tiwari said, adding: "It should have thought about the works before amending the guidelines."
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