Tax Casinos

The government’s inability to collect due revenue from casinos is indeed very shameful. It has also proved the inefficiency of the revenue administration. When the government has shockingly failed to force casinos - a recreation gambling business- to clear their tax liabilities, on what moral grounds can it compel fixed income individuals to pay their taxes? Another question is what is preventing the revenue agencies that have enough legal power from taking tough actions against the casino operators who have not cleared their taxes for years?



This must be investigated and the report should be made public and the culprits brought to book at the earliest.



The latest saga unfolded after the police launched a series of actions against casinos for allowing Nepalis to gamble, which is against the law of the country. The incident has exposed how irresponsible our hotels with casinos are. They eagerly seek license to operate casino in their premises, but shy away from the responsibility of running it by remaining within the legal framwork. The agreement inked with the government clearly makes hotels accountable for the settlement of taxes and compliance to other prevailing laws.



Giving the authority to oversee casinos to Nepal Recreation Center (NRC) is not a permit for the government to remain a mute spectator. It is their job to ensure that NRC is adhering to the words and spirit of the agreement it signed with the government, and ensuring that such businesses are operating without violating the country’s existing laws. If NRC flouts them, the goverment is free to instantly terminate the agreement. What is holding them back from taking such a step? If the hotels cannot handle their business legally, why does not the government scrap their licenses and shut down the casinos?



The unfolding undisciplined operation of casinos in the country has showcased the undue might NRC has gained in the gaming sector. NRC is just a party that handles casino business for hotels. It is neither the owner nor the licensee. However, it has dared to challenge the law of the land. What empowered it to exercise such privileges? Clearly, it has to do with corruption and the nexus it has managed to establish with the power-centers in bureaucracy, politics and social sphere.



It is for this reason top police officials, politicians and bureaucrats are employing all means possible to foil the latest initiatives to make the casinos become more responsible. We demand that shielding casinos by power-centers must end immediately. The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation that issues casino license should also have a good mechanism for supervision. If required, the government must be bold enough to cancel the license of those casinos that violate the law of the land.

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