Pokhara is a popular tourist destination in Nepal- a peaceful countryside and an adventure zone, with beautiful lakes and Himalayan landscapes. If you are done with trailing the mountains or taking a boat ride on the serene lakes and looking forward to trying your luck in gambling in Pokhara, there are only a few options for you, as gambling of any kind is considered illegal in Nepal.
Casinos in Pokhara
The only casinos in Pokhara, which now remains closed, after the casino regulations act came into effect, are Casino Pokhara Grande and Casino Fulbari. There are rumours of illegal casino parlours operating in discrete areas, which you can find with the help of locals.
SourceThe casino industry in Nepal has always been on a roller coaster ride, affected by government regulations and natural disasters. The Nepalese government closed most of the casinos following the casino regulations in 2014, due to non-payment of taxes and failure in renewing their licenses. Later on, a few casinos, most of them illegal, continued operating in different parts of Nepal. More casino hotels came up in Kathmandu after 2015, under the new casino regulations, putting Nepal back on the gambling map for international tourists.
Now, most of the famous and largest casinos in Nepal are located in the capital city of Kathmandu, which has over 9 legal gambling locations, 375 gaming slots, 126 table games and LCD poker machines. The largest casino in Nepal is the Tiger Palace Resort Casino, located in Bhairahawa.
Online Casino in Pokhara
SourceThe government ban includes all land-based as well as online casino sites in Nepal, and Nepalese residents are still forbidden from participating in any form of gambling, including online gambling. No legal gambling websites operate from Nepal, as the government does not issue a license to them. The legal gambling sites are open only for foreign players or tourists. Locals who are caught gambling are either fined or jailed, but the authorities usually do not prosecute foreigners who bet online. The regulations are not strict for online gambling and the government does not impose any kind of ban on foreign gambling websites, making it possible for placing online bets.
The popular online gambling sites that can be accessed in Pokhara are:
Bet365
Novibet
1xbet
Tornado bet
William Hill
Pinup bet
Casinia bet
Malina Sports.
You can check the gaming options available with the gaming sites of your choice, which offer sweet bonuses and stakes. Online casino players can make payments in the gaming sites through credit cards such as visa, maestro or master cards, and through e-wallets such as Skrill and Neteller.
Fortunately, casino winnings are not taxed in Nepal. Gambling is possible in Pokhara through foreign online gaming sites, but real casino based gambling options are very limited. If you want to try your luck at roulette, poker, or blackjack, you can head to the popular casinos in Kathmandu.
