KATHMANDU: Casinos operating in various places, including Kathmandu are yet to settle over Rs 1.32 billion in revenue.
Casinos, which were operated by flouting the government’s rules, had remained closed for a certain period of time. However, the casinos resumed their operation following the Supreme Court’s interim order not to close down the mini-casinos operated by three and four-star hotels.
According to the Casino Regulations 2013, casinos are required to renew their license every year by paying 50 percent of the operating license fee. Likewise, the operators are required to apply for the renewal a month before its expiry, the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) stated.
While big casinos and mini-casinos are yet to settle their outstanding royalty of around Rs 20 million and Rs 10 million respectively.
According to the OAG report, five companies are yet to clear the arrears amounting to Rs 70 million in renewal fee this year. Casinos operators are required to pay an annual royalty of Rs 30 million as set by the Financial Act 2017-18.
Currently, a total of 29 casinos are yet to clear a total of Rs 290 million dues, according to Bishnu Prasad Rijal, the spokesperson at the OAG. However, the Department of Tourism has not taken action against them.
While big casinos and mini-casinos are yet to settle their outstanding royalty of around Rs 20 million and Rs 10 million respectively.
Sources at the Department of Tourism said only those casinos operating by taking advantage of the SC interim order have been found flouting the rules. The OAG has accused the Department of Tourism of failing to take action against them.
Director General of the Department of Tourism, Dhundi Raj Ghimire states, “It is, in fact, challenging to collect revenue from the casinos. Earlier, the Internal Revenue Department was collecting revenues from casinos. Currently, the Department of Tourism collects revenue from the casinos.”
Ghimire claimed that there have been some positive indications since he took charge as the Director General of the Department of Tourism. The Department has raised a total of 1.13 billion so far, including Rs 660 million last year.
It has also been revealed that casinos are being operated from four places with a single license. As per the provision in the Finance Act, a casino can be operated from only one place with a single license.
The following casinos are yet to clear the outstanding dues, and have been operating for the last two and a half years following the Supreme Court’s interim order.
Hotel Yak and Yeti Casino
Radisson Hotel Casino Rad
Casino Rock International
Happy Hour Mini Casino
Central Media Pvt. Ltd.
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