TID drafting laws to regulate casinos Himalayan News Service Kathmandu, February 9: After 29 years of operation of casinos, the Tourism Industry Division (TID) under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has prepared a draft of a bill to regulate casinos. According to Shankar Prasad Pandey, ministry joint-secretary, TID has sent it to the ministry. According to a TID official, the division felt the need to formulate laws to strictly regulate the casinos. “We are unable to take any action against casinos if they found violating conditions that they met while receiving permission from the government,” he said. Pandey informed the discussion is going on at the ministerial level to give final shape to the draft. “However, we will hold discussions with stakeholders also before sending it to the ministry of law, justice and parliamentary affairs,” Pandey told this daily. In September, TID had started monitoring casinos to ensure they strictly followed the terms and conditions agreed upon while being awarded licences. As a part of the move, a team, headed by TID chief Shankhar Prasad Pandey and comprising tourist police personnel inspected two casinos in December 2003 and March 2004. In the letter, the respective casino managements were requested to keep signboards, clearly visible to all entrants, reading “Nepalis are not allowed”. The TID had also asked them to keep records of all casino visitors detailing name, address, nationality, passport number and citizenship on a regular basis. Baba Sarkar, sales and marketing director of Casino Everest said all the casinos, in their reply to the TID, claimed they were serious in ensuring that all terms and conditions are followed strictly.