KATHMANDU: Nepal’s telecommunications regulator has blocked more than 223,000 websites and mobile apps linked to online betting and illegal financial transactions as part of an intensified crackdown during the FIFA World Cup.

The Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) said the action follows a government directive issued on March 26 requiring the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology to shut down online betting websites and apps within 24 hours of detection.

Although betting platforms were blocked nationwide after the directive, many have continued to reappear under new domain names. The NTA said it has blocked 223,568 such websites and apps since the start of this year’s FIFA World Cup.

The regulator said the Prime Minister’s Office took a particular interest in preventing a surge in online betting during the tournament, prompting the NTA to accelerate enforcement and establish a dedicated task force.

Om Prakash Mahato, an assistant director and engineer at the NTA, said internet service providers (ISPs) have been working directly with the authority to identify and block the URLs of betting and illegal financial websites.

Mahato said the regulator also uses threat intelligence tools to detect newly created domains, as operators frequently launch replacement websites after existing ones are blocked. Additional personnel have been deployed to monitor and shut down new platforms as they emerge.