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The gambling laws in Nepal are somewhat complicated. According to the Public Gaming Act of 1963, the country permits visitors to place bets at land-based establishments, but residents can’t. However, the act of any other law doesn’t address betting sites in Nepal, which many Nepalis use.
The issue is that not all international sportsbooks that welcome Nepalis are dependable for betting. Our job at BetZillion is to assist readers in choosing the best sites, and we’ve done that consistently. So, go for the platforms we recommend for sports betting on this page. Sign up, place bets, and you’ll know why we rate them highly.
Betting and gambling in Nepal are legal, but only for foreigners who can use land-based casinos or sportsbooks. On the other side, locals are prohibited from entering any gambling establishment. However, even though Nepalese residents legally can't bet or gamble, no law would prohibit them from visiting online betting sites in Nepal or using any online casino.
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Moreover, Nepal doesn't block access to any international sportsbooks in Nepal. It puts the Nepalese gambling landscape in a grey zone, where online betting isn't legal but is technically legal since the government hasn't introduced any law which would make it illegal.
As a result, Nepal is home to many international bookmakers. So even though there are no real legal betting sites in Nepal, all of the sportsbooks which accept Nepalese bettors can be used to bet on sports, which creates a fairly rich betting environment for local bettors. However, it's important to note that many top international sportsbooks don't operate in Nepal.
Signing up with Nepalese bookmakers is very straightforward, and it doesn't take longer than a few minutes to complete. Even though locals aren't allowed to visit land-based bookmakers, they can easily register with any bookmaker which accepts Nepalese customers, and there is no need for a VPN. However, some bookmakers will only be accessible via mirror links.
To sign up with any betting site in Nepal, follow four simple steps.
It's also wise to complete the Know Your Customer (KYC) verification as soon as possible. KYC will be required for making withdrawals, and since it can take up to a few working days to complete, it's advised to do it as soon as bettors set up their betting accounts with Nepal online betting website.
Despite not having a regulated online betting sector, Nepal is home to hundreds of online betting sites which can operate in the country and accept local bettors without a local betting license – of which there is none. For a country that doesn't have a regulated online betting sector, the offer of bookmakers in Nepal is quite generous, which is great for bettors who have enough options, but with so many options, there are bound to be good and bad bookmakers,
Here are some key things we check to differentiate which are the best betting sites in Nepal and which bookmakers are mediocre or are better left alone.
As noted, the Nepalese government doesn't care if their residents access international bookmakers even though they're not allowed to bet or gamble. And that allows international sportsbooks to accept Nepalese punters and offer them any bonuses they desire.
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Admittedly, some sportsbooks, which can technically accept Nepalese bettors, will decide they won't, and the same can happen with bookmakers, which will accept Nepalese punters but limit the offer of bonuses they can receive. It isn't common, but it has been reported to happen.
Nevertheless, many betting sites in Nepal offer bonuses and promotions for Nepalese punters without limitations. And those fall into five main categories.
Deposit bonuses are some of the most straightforward betting bonus offers, which bettors can claim simply by depositing with a bookmaker. The most common deposit bonus is matched deposit, which, as the name suggests, awards bettors a bonus upon making a deposit.
All of the top betting sites in Nepal will have a welcome offer, which has become a mandatory bonus every sportsbook should have nowadays. The welcome offers are available only to new customers and are typically the most generous since their main goal is to attract new customers to the sportsbook.
Welcome bonuses can include many things, including free bets, but most commonly, welcome bonuses are matched deposit bonuses. New bettors can claim these after they make their first deposit with the betting site.
Free bets can be offered as a part of the welcome bonus, but most commonly, betting sites in Nepal give free bet offers to existing customers a few times throughout the year. Free bets are nothing more than bookmakers giving their customers some free wagering cash without any strings attached, and the size is often dictated by the bettor's average bet with the bookmaker.
If a punter regularly bets with $5, then he'll likely receive a $5 free bet a few times throughout the year. Notably, some betting sites in Nepal will add restrictions on free bets, such as a limit on which markets the best can be used on or add a rollover requirement.
But the free bets can typically be used on any market and have a 1x Rollover.
CashBack is another common bonus offer bookmakers give to their existing customers. As the name suggests, cashback is a promotion that the bettor can use to receive some of the money on betting back, but unlike most other promotions, cashback often comes with differing rules.
Some bookmakers will have VIP Offers, a loyalty program that gives the most loyal and active bettors various goodies. Those can include deposit bonuses, cashback, free bets, higher limits, even paid trips to resorts, and more.
VIP offers can have extremely generous bonuses, but they're also the hardest to obtain since the best promotions are available only to those bettors who reach the highest level, which can require a +$1 million turnover per year. Still, bettors can take advantage of many great betting bonus offers, even at lower ranks.
📅 Sports Betting Legal Since: | Technically illegal |
🏢 Regulatory Body: | Nepali Law Commission |
⚖️ Legal Acts: | Gambling Act, 2020 (1963) |
🧾 Taxation: | Winnings are not taxable |
⚽ Favorite Sports to Bet on: | Football, cricket, volleyball, swimming, tennis |
🏅 Widespread Tournaments\Competitions to Bet on: | Nepal Super League, Nepal T20 League, Nepal National League, Everest Premier League, Martyr's Memorial A-Division League |
🎰 Other Popular Gambling Markets: | Online casinos, slot machines, lotteries |
⭐ Most Popular Sportsbooks: | Ivibet, 22Bet, 20Bet |
Even though online betting in Nepal isn't explicitly legal, Nepalese bettors can register with one of many bookmakers and bet on whatever they like. There are also no limitations on what Nepalese punters can bet on.
Moreover, many of the betting apps in Nepal put extra effort into offering betting markets on the most popular sports in Nepal, and there are more than a few sports gambling websites covering local Nepalese tournaments and all international sporting events featuring Nepalese teams and players.
Sports are very popular in Nepal, so it shouldn't come off as a surprise that many locals like sports betting. But while sports betting, in general, is prevalent, there are a few sports that stand out as the most popular.
Interestingly, football, the world's most popular sport, isn't number 1 in Nepal. Instead, the most popular sport in the country is cricket, followed by football, volleyball, and swimming. Still, even though other sports, such as ski jumping, basketball, or American football, are smaller in Nepal, top betting sites in Nepal still cover them with betting markets, and there is no discrimination on which sport Nepalese punters can bet on.
Football is the second-most popular sport in Nepal and a big deal among Nepalese sports bettors.
And since football is by far the biggest sport in the world, it shouldn't be shocking to learn that all betting sites in Nepal offer football betting markets.
Football betting in Nepal is as accessible as in any other country. So whether local bettors want to wager on the Nepal A Division, the Premier League, MLS, or any other major competition, they're just a few clicks away.
Basketball is one of the most popular sports among bettors, and there are many reasons for it. The game is simple to understand and very exciting to watch, but most importantly, basketball is one of the most accessible sports on online betting sites.
Even though basketball is smaller than football or cricket in Nepal, Nepalese bettors can look farther to find basketball betting markets.
Wagering on tennis is possible on all betting sites in Nepal, which is hardly surprising since tennis is one of the most popular sports. And even though Nepalese athletes have yet to accomplish much at the highest level of professional tennis, the sport remains highly popular among Nepalese punters.
Cricket is by far the most popular sport in Nepal and most of Asia, not only among the spectators but mainly among sports bettors.
Therefore, all betting sites in Nepal are expected to have cricket betting markets, knowing that every Nepalese punter bet on cricket.
Esports betting has been gaining popularity over the last decade and has now reached a status that can be comparable to sports betting. Nowadays, all major online betting sites have Esports betting markets available alongside sports betting markets, making it very easy to start betting on Esports.
Even in Nepal, Esports betting is gaining traction, largely due to how important Esports is in Nepal's neighboring countries.
The best betting sites in Nepal do a good job with their market coverage, offering betting markets on all sports and all major sports competitions – without any limitations. Moreover, those bookmakers who operate in Nepal also put extra effort into offering markets for local competitions such as the Nepal A Division, the Nepal Basketball League, and the Nepal T20 League.
Nepal is not a popular host of major sports tournaments; however, Nepalese teams and players regularly feature in many events, such as the Olympics, Asian Games, and South Asian Games, which are all very popular tournaments to bet on among Nepalese punters.
Even though Nepal doesn't host major international tournaments, it does host National Games, a sports event meant to identify the top talent for Asian Games, South Asian Games, and Olympic Games. It is regularly featured on Nepalese betting sites.
Nepal is home to many sports and national football, basketball, and cricket teams, which regularly compete in international events. Naturally, locals are proud of their national sports talent and regularly bet on Nepalese national teams.
But more commonly, Nepalese punters wager on local sports competitions such as the Nepal A Division, the Nepal Basketball League, and the Nepal T20 League, which are well covered by all of the best betting sites in Nepal
Nepalese are very proud of their athletes, so naturally, betting on Nepalese sports players and athletes is very popular. Especially during Asian Games, the Olympics, or the South Asian Games, there will be many opportunities to bet on Nepalese athletes, and all of the bookmakers in the country will ensure they'll have markets for it.
It's easy to find a betting site in Nepal since the country has no restrictions on which bookmakers can accept Nepalese bettors. It creates a situation where dozens of sportsbooks punters can choose from, which is highly advantageous.
But among all the sportsbooks, there are good and bad Nepali bet sites, and it's important to know how to differentiate between them.
Before registering with any Nepal betting site, here are some key things to check.
Online betting in Nepal is regulated, so it is impossible to deposit with betting sites in Nepal with a bank transfer like in many other countries in the same position. That, however, isn't that big of an issue since there are many alternative payment options.
E-wallets such as SticPay are highly popular among Nepalese punters and readily available on most sportsbooks. Most bettors also like to use ecoPayz due to its fast money transfers and because it's one of the main ways to pay for online goods.
Crypto payments are becoming more popular in Nepal because they offer anonymous money transfers. However, it's important to note that not all websites offering sports betting in Nepal will have crypto payments.
Withdrawal methods are usually more limited than deposit options, as is the case on Nepalese betting sites. Again, it's not possible to use bank transfers since online betting isn't legalized in the country, but that's hardly an issue since all bookmakers allow for E-wallet withdrawals.
EcoPayz and SticPay are Nepalese punters' two main withdrawal methods, with crypto close behind as an alternative option for those who want to keep their betting activity under the radar.
Most Nepalese bettors prefer to bet from their phones, and they don't have issues with it since all of the top betting sites in Nepal have either a mobile website or a mobile betting app. However, knowing how much more convenient apps are, most mobile bettors prefer to register with sportsbooks with an app available.
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Compared to a mobile website, mobile apps work much better, have a better design, and are far more stable. Moreover, bookmakers regularly offer app-exclusive betting bonuses, which is a big reason why using a mobile app is advantageous even for those bettors who don't exclusively bet from their phones.
1xBet and Parimatch are 2 bookmakers most popular among Nepalese mobile punters due to their excellent betting apps. But those are just two of many betting sites with an IPL betting app in Nepal.
Live betting has become a mandatory feature all modern sportsbooks should have, and they, for the most part, do. But there's a difference between the best and mediocre in-play sportsbooks.
Even when comparing betting sites in Nepal, there's a big difference in the available bookmakers with live betting; however, it's easy to spot which are great choices. The best bookmakers for live betting must have enough live betting markets and live streaming options.
As of 2024, most sportsbooks check those marks, but bettors after the best live betting sites must ensure that the sportsbook has a solid live streaming offer, which is the biggest differentiating factor between the good and bad in-play bookmakers.
Even though Nepal has no law to make online betting legal for locals, the government has also not made it illegal. As a result, Nepalese punters can freely bet online without fearing legal consequences.
Still, those who want to start betting on online sportsbooks must keep a few things in mind.
Everyone who wants to start online betting in Nepal has to be aware of the fact that gambling in Nepal is illegal. That law applies to all Nepalese citizens who cannot place sports bets or use casinos. However, there is a grey zone.
The Nepalese government made gambling illegal in 1963 with a new law revised in 2020, but it hasn't changed the legal landscape in the country – gambling remained illegal for all locals. The decision to make gambling illegal was to protect Nepalese citizens but hasn't accepted any laws that would make betting illegal for foreigners.
Since visitors and other foreigners are allowed to gamble in Nepal, the country opened its first casino in 1968 and added a handful more, which proved to be the right move, as the country creates a lot of income from foreigners playing in Nepalese casinos.
Moreover, there are many betting shops – owned by some of the best Asian betting sites – in Nepal, but those are only available for foreigners again. Interestingly, despite the strict laws, Nepal has yet to accept any sports gambling law which would mention the online betting sector. Moreover, the government makes no effort to block access to foreign websites where people can bet online in Nepal.
The history of online betting in Nepal wasn't interesting, as there have been few noticeable developments. In 1963, the government made all gambling and betting illegal in the country, but this law only applied to residents and not to tourists and visitors.
Five years later, in 1968, Nepal started building land-based casinos to create revenue from foreign tourists, and the plan proved to be a massive success. Shortly after, the opening of land-based sportsbooks followed, but again, those were only legal for foreigners.
There were some changes to the Nepalese gambling law in 2020, but those didn't introduce anything new. Betting and gambling remained illegal for locals. Interestingly, the new law does not mention online sports gambling, which puts the Nepalese betting landscape in a gray zone, where it's not explicitly legal for locals to use foreign online bookmakers. Still, it's not illegal, which de Iure makes it legal.
Based on Nepal's past approach towards legalizing betting and gambling in the country, it's fair to assume that we're still far away from the complete legalization of online betting for locals. But there's hope.
Nepal is a betting heaven for tourists, and the revenue Nepal makes from tourists and visitors betting and gambling makes up a good portion of the country's total GDP. Moreover, the lack of a law prohibiting locals from accessing foreign Nepal betting sites suggests that the country isn't totally against their residents placing bets.
That said, legalizing betting and gambling in Nepal likely isn't one of the immediate plans for the government, so it seems like we're still years away from Nepal setting up a legal framework for the online betting and gambling sector.
Before we conclude our article on online sports betting in Nepal and the best Nepalese bookmakers, here are a few interesting facts about the country you might need to learn about.
It concludes our article, which covers everything you need to know about online betting and gambling in Nepal. Now you know how to bet in the country and where to find the best betting sites in Nepal, but before starting your betting endeavor, remember to never bet with more than you can afford and be aware of the dangers of gambling addiction.