Although the proposal in itself may have been designed with good intentions, it reflects the escapist attitude adopted by the government after failing miserably to effectively implement the rule of law. The Gambling Act, 1963, clearly prohibits all Nepali citizens from gambling in casinos. The idea behind is to stop the people from visiting casinos where there are high possibilities of Nepalis losing their money and property. Unfortunately, however, this rule has hardly been implemented in Nepal, or to put it otherwise, the government machinery has been rendered useless in imposing the law. In such a scenario, the home ministry can hardly guarantee that by moving the casinos away from the city center it can put an end to gambling habits of the people. It would rather provide safer havens for them as police mobilization is thinner in the outskirts of the valley. Rather than making efforts to strengthen rules and regulations, the government is looking at taking a very easy approach to this grave matter.
Moreover, the authorities concerned should realize that unless the owners and management of the casinos are made accountable toward the rule of law, nothing concrete can be achieved. All are aware that casino owners are well-protected by the top political leadership of the country and, therefore, police is unable to take stern action against those owners who are blatantly violating the laws. There should be no alternative to law enforcement. Home ministry should go head on to break the political nexus and bring all stakeholders of casino business into the gambit of legal framework. And if the state cannot do that, the right alternative is to make amendment to the 1963 Act and legalize gambling altogether so that the state no longer needs to bother about enforcing behavioral regulation among the public at large.
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