Kathmandu:
Authorities in Nepal today arrested some 12 people in a stepped up crackdown on casinos allowing locals to gamble, police said.
It is illegal to allow Nepalese to gamble in the eight casinos being operated in the capital Kathmandu.
Casinos have been seeking to attract locals amid decline in Indians arriving in Kathmandu due to security fears, frequent police raids and opening of casinos in Goa, Macau and other East Asian countries.
In effect, local visitors dominate the eight casinos operating in Kathmandu and two in Pokhara, the tourist hub of western Nepal. According to sources, more than 80 per cent of the visitors are now locals.
The police arrested seven locals from Casino Royale situated in Hotel Yak and Yeti at Durbar Marg in the heart of Kathmandu.
The police recovered Rs 22,000 in cash, coins worth Rs 15,000 and cheque amounting to Rs 350,000 from them.
Five Nepalese were arrested from Casino Everest located at Hotel Everest.