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Gambling and online casinos in Bhutan
Bhutan is one of the most closed and spiritually oriented countries in Asia, where Buddhist philosophy is at the heart of public policy.
Unlike neighboring Nepal, Bhutan has completely excluded gambling from its economy, considering it a violation of moral principles and social well-being.
The state does not seek to develop a casino or gambling industry, betting on "national happiness" and sustainable development, and not on profit from excitement.
Legislative framework
Gambling is regulated by several regulations at once:- The Penal Code of Bhutan (2004, amended 2011) - explicitly prohibits the organization and participation in gambling;
- The Information, Communications and Media Act (2018) - prohibits online gambling and advertising of casino sites;
- Lottery Act (2016) - regulates the only permitted form of lottery activity.
- any money games are considered illegal;
- violators face fines and imprisonment of up to 3 years;
- Bhutanese citizens cannot participate in foreign lotteries or online betting;
- operators offering gambling on the Internet are blocked through the Bhutan InfoComm and Media Authority (BICMA).
Religious and cultural context
Buddhism is not just a religion, but the basis of the Bhutanese worldview.
In this value system, gambling is perceived as a form of greed and addiction that violates internal harmony.
The government therefore sees the casino ban not as an economic constraint but a moral obligation to society.
The country even has a government program to strengthen Gross National Happiness (GNH), where one of the principles is a "dependency-free society."
Gambling is equated with addictions, along with alcohol and tobacco.
Legal forms of games
The only exception is the state lottery Bhutan Lottery Limited (BLL), created in 2016 and subordinate to the Ministry of Finance.
The main functions of BLL are:- organization of national draws;
- financing of public programs - education, health care, infrastructure;
- controlling lottery agents and countering illegal ticket sales.
Earlier, until 2010, the Bhutanese lottery worked jointly with India, but was closed after a corruption scandal.
The new version of the lottery is focused exclusively on the domestic market and transparency.
In 2024, revenues from Bhutan Lottery amounted to about Nu 250 million (≈ $3 million), fully directed to social funds.
Online gambling
Bhutan categorically prohibits any form of online gambling.
BICMA (Bhutan InfoComm and Media Authority) monitors the Internet space and blocks:- online casino, poker and betting sites;
- offshore domains (1xBet, Betway, Parimatch, etc.);
- gambling advertising on social media and media.
Using a VPN to bypass locks is technically possible, but it is also punishable by law.
According to the Information, Communications and Media Act (Articles 391-395), the participation of citizens in prohibited online games can be recognized as a "cybercrime," punishable by a fine of up to Nu 100,000 ($1,200) and imprisonment.
Illegal market
The shadow gambling sector in Bhutan is minimal due to strict controls and lack of mass demand.
However, in the border areas with India - Funcholing, Sarpang, Samdrup-Jonghar - there are cases of residents participating in Indian online lotteries and betting, especially through mobile applications.
In 2023, Bhutan police made several arrests related to illegal cricket betting during the IPL.
Smartphones, cash and SIM cards of Indian operators were seized from violators.
However, the level of illegal activity remains extremely low compared to its neighbors - Nepal and India.
Economic and social policy
The government of Bhutan deliberately abandons the idea of casinos and gambling, believing that economic growth should not go to the detriment of ethics and spiritual values.
The country is betting on:- ecotourism and trekking (Himalayas, monasteries, cultural routes);
- sustainable agriculture;
- education and digital technologies without dependence on gambling entertainment.
Bhutan actively promotes the image of a "clean" country free of vices and social problems.
That is why there is not a single casino in the country, not a single bookmaker and not a single official online operator.
Taxation
Control and punishments
Control over the implementation of legislation is carried out by:- Royal Bhutan Police (Kingdom Police);
- Bhutan InfoComm and Media Authority (BICMA);
- Ministry of Finance (through Lottery Department).
Violations are rarely recorded, but the authorities regularly remind citizens of responsibility through national media and educational campaigns.
Prospects
Bhutan does not plan to legalize gambling either offline or online.
In the long term, only the following areas are considered:1. Development of digital platforms for social lotteries.
2. Possible participation in regional charity raffles.
3. Strengthening cyber control over VPN and offshore domains.
The country maintains a course towards spiritual development and social balance, where material excitement is perceived as a threat to harmony.
Bhutan is the only South Asian country where gambling is completely absent, not because of economic weakness, but because of a conscious state philosophy.
There is no casino, sweepstakes or online gambling here, and the very idea of "betting on luck" contradicts the Buddhist worldview.
Instead of "fun excitement," Bhutan offers harmony, spirituality and clean rest to its citizens and tourists, proving that happiness can be measured not in winnings, but in inner peace.
