In this regard, the MoTCA has forwarded the MoF´s instruction to the Ministry of Law and Justice to seek its opinion. [break]
The MoTCA forwarded the proposal on Thursday without making any amendment to the document sent by the MoF to reiterate its stance on allowing big taxpayers with annual turnover of Rs 250 million or above to enter casinos as well as electronic gaming parlors.
The ministry has also proposed to charge entrance fee of Rs 5,000 and Rs 1,000 per person for entry into casinos and electronic gaming parlors, respectively, and erecting separate entrance gates for Nepalis.
“We are determined on our decision although the finance ministry has rejected our proposal. That is the reason we have forwarded the same proposal without making any amendment,” said a senior official at the MoTCA.
In contrast, the finance ministry on Tuesday had clearly said Nepalis should be completely barred from casinos. The MoF has also recommended terminating operation of all existing electronic gaming parlors and discontinuing issuance of new licenses to operate the parlors.
The finance ministry laid these views while reviewing the draft of Casino and Electronic Gaming Bylaw prepared by the MoTCA.
The official at the MoTCA argued that closing doors of casinos for Nepalis was not the solution in itself and the issue could be addressed by proper monitoring of guests who visit casinos.
“There is a huge chance of capital flight as such people (high tax payers) might go abroad to gamble if they are completely prohibited to gamble in their own country,” added the official.
The MoTCA has also proposed giving away 95 percent of the amount collected through entrance fees to the state and the remaining 5 percent among employees of casinos.
Public Accounts´ Committee of the parliament had earlier instructed the MoTCA to completely prohibit entry of Nepalis into casinos.
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