KATHMANDU: Nepal imported playing cards worth Rs 116.8 million during the first three months of the current fiscal year 2083/84. According to the Department of Customs, 3.42 million units of playing cards were imported between mid-July and mid-October.
The government collected Rs 70.7 million in customs revenue from these imports, which accounts for approximately 60 percent of the total purchase value. The influx of cards was largely attributed to the festive season.
While Nepali law permits the import of playing cards as a recreational item, gambling remains illegal. Despite regular police crackdowns on gambling activities across the country, the import of these cards continues without restriction. The data highlights a significant gap between legal provisions and actual practice, as the state continues to generate substantial tax revenue from a product primarily used for illegal gambling.
