Illegal Gambling Promotions Face Heavy Penalties in Nepal

The Advertising Board has taken action against the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) and two advertising agencies for promoting illegal betting websites during last year’s Nepal Premier League (NPL), held from November 30 to December 21.

The board has issued a warning to CAN, asking them to avoid future violations. Meanwhile, Brand Digital Logic Pvt. Ltd. and TCM Sports and Marketing Pvt. Ltd., which managed advertising work for the league, have been fined NPR 10,000 each and banned from issuing, publishing, or broadcasting advertisements for three months.

The violations were discovered after NPL matches were broadcast on Star Sports via a foreign company, Twenty First Century Media, with ads for gambling platforms like OnexBet, Wolf777, and DafaNews. Complaints also noted that betting ads appeared on players’ T-shirts and around the stadium.

CAN did not respond to numerous letters from the board. When CAN did finally respond, they indicated that they did not have the time to look at our letters and respond adequately. We did not consider this a valid answer, and it was as a result of the proper process that the costs were awarded under the Advertisement Regulation and the Regulations presented before the corrective law.

The two advertising agencies were charged for running advertisements without registering the advertisements; they were also charged because they promoted. During the three-month ban, advertisers and media outlets are instructed not to work with these agencies.

Despite this action, Kantipur has reportedly continued promoting online betting on its YouTube and TV channels. During the Top End T20 series in Australia, Kantipur Max TV is advertising Dafabet directly, while last season, similar promotions were done indirectly through surrogate advertising like Dafa News.

Surrogate advertising is a method used to promote products that are illegal to advertise directly, such as gambling, alcohol, or tobacco, by linking them with legal items.

Devi Khatri, Chief Administrative Officer of the Advertising Board, said broadcasting illegal betting ads on national television is a serious matter. She added that the board will also investigate Kantipur and take necessary action if illegal advertisements are found.