Kathmandu, September 9

With the festive season just around the corner, the Metropolitan Police Office is on its toes dealing with increased incidents of illegal gambling in the Valley.

Though gambling is a usual happening, it becomes all-pervasive during the festivals, mainly Dashain and Tihar. During festivals, pubs, bars, restaurants, hotels, lodges and street corners turn into gambling dens.

Bearing this in mind, police have stepped up crackdown on gambling dens to combat the rising trend of illegal gambling covertly operated from houses and huts in the Valley.

Gambling is punishable by the existing laws.

According to figures maintained by the MPO, police have dismantled at least 34 gambling dens over a period of five months and the crackdown has gained momentum in recent weeks.

Around Rs 9 million was recovered from over 200 gamblers.

On August 24, police raided a house of Samal Tamang in Suryabinayak, Bhaktapur and arrested 16 persons in the act of gambling. Seven decks of playing cards, two sets of kauda and Rs 1,058,200 in stake were recovered from the gambling parlour.

Similarly, the law enforcement agency rounded up 13 gamblers with Rs 281,600 from Hotel Destination in Balkumari, Lalitpur on September 5.

After police stepped up its surveillance at casinos to curb the entry of Nepali gamblers, the number of Nepalis going to casinos has come down. Regular casino frequenters have started covertly operating gambling dens in restaurants and houses.

The law bars Nepali citizens from entering casinos with the intent of gambling. Police officials say all ‘seasoned gamblers’ are shifting to gambling dens in search of a safer place. The recent raids and arrests in various guest houses and restaurants in Kathmandu also support the fact.

The Gambling Act-1963 is not strong as gamblers and operators of gambling dens can easily be let off the hook with a meager fine of just Rs 200 in the first instance, according to officials.

Retired government employees, businesspersons and contractors top the chart of gamblers. Police said gambling also leads to social crimes and domestic violence.