Experience the thrill of top-rated casinos in Kathmandu. Unlock luxury, excitement, and upscale nightlife on your next Nepal adventure!
Casinos in Nepal 2025: The Ultimate Guide Where to Play in Kathmandu
You landed in Nepal for temples and trekking, yet the neon pull of a casino in Nepal is hard to ignore. Gambling here is perfectly legal—if you are not a Nepali citizen, are at least 18, and are stepping into a venue licensed by the Department of Tourism, according to kathmandupost.com. Locals still can’t play, so the chip tables feel like a lively expat party fueled by rupee-to-dollar conversion quirks.
Kathmandu Valley carries the biggest cluster—air-con oases set inside five-star hotels, plus one splashy resort just outside the city limits. Expect security scanners, a polite passport check, and chips priced in Nepali rupees or Indian rupees (they’re accepted nearly one-to-one on the floor).
Nepal Casino Snapshot 2025
- Legal age: 18+ for foreigners; Nepali nationals barred from entry casinoinnepal.com
- Licensing body: Ministry of Culture, Tourism & Civil Aviation via the Department of Tourism lawimperial.com
- Peak hours: 9 pm-2 am Friday/Saturday
- Dress code: Smart-casual at minimum; flip-flops still get you bounced.
- Currency quirks: Tables run INR or NPR; house exchange rates aren’t generous—bring small bills.
Top 5 Casinos in Nepal (2025 edition)
Below is our field-tested leaderboard, sorted by game mix and overall vibe rather than pure square footage. Locations are plotted relative to Thamel, Kathmandu’s backpacker hub, to keep your taxi math simple.
| Casino | Location | Entry Fee | Top Game | Hotel/Resort | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tiger Palace Resort | Bhaktapur outskirts* | NPR 1,000 | Teen Patti | ✔ Spa resort | ★★★★☆ |
| Casino Mahjong | Soaltee Crowne Plaza, Thamel | NPR 500 | Mahjong | ✖ (hotel next door) | ★★★☆☆ |
| Casino Royale | Hotel Yak & Yeti, Pulchowk | NPR 1,500 | Blackjack | ✔ Heritage hotel | ★★★★☆ |
| Deltin Nepal | Marriott, Durbar Marg | NPR 800 | Roulette | ✖ (hotel across street) | ★★★☆☆ |
| Casino Vegas by Big Daddy | Baluwatar | NPR 300 | Slots | ✖ | ★★☆☆☆ |
*Technically in Bhairahawa, a 30-minute domestic hop from Kathmandu; still marketed as the “Kathmandu escape” by resort shuttles.
Tiger Palace Resort—the riverside all-in-one
Rooftop infinity pool, Teen Patti tables humming till dawn, and—surprise—western Nepal’s prettiest spa. Opening hours run 24/7 with a soft dress code, yet high-roller salons enforce jackets after 7 pm. The NPR 1,000 door charge flips into chips on entry, so you’re not really losing it in casinoinnepal.com. Book the stay-and-play bundle and you’ll have a complimentary shuttle from Kathmandu’s domestic terminal.
Casino Mahjong — casual, snack-fuelled nights
Tucked inside the Soaltee Crowne Plaza, Mahjong leans into its namesake: four dedicated mahjong tables, unlimited momo trays for buy-ins over NPR 10,000, and a 24-hour service window. Reviews gripe about entry fees jumping to INR 2,500 on peak weekends according to tripadvisor.com, but bargaining chips often offset the shock. Come in jeans, you’re fine; come in flip-flops, you’re headed back to your hotel.
Casino Royale — velvet salons & late-night DJs
Slip past the Hotel Yak & Yeti fountains and you’re in a chandeliered ballroom the size of a small palace. Doors never close; the roulette wheel is still spinning when the dawn prayer flags flap outside. Foreign passport, smart-casual threads, NPR 1,500 at the door (refunded as chips) and you’re good to go. You can check it out on tripadvisor.comholidify.com. Blackjack steals the spotlight, but the reason regulars return is the tucked-away high-roller salon where minimums start at NPR 5,000 a hand. Dress codes loosen after midnight—just keep the flip-flops in your suitcase.
Deltin Nepal — Goa flair in Durbar Marg
An Indian chain in a glass-and-chrome Kathmandu Marriott annex might sound odd, yet the 15,000-sq-ft floor hums with 220-plus gaming positions, a stage for Bollywood covers, and a bar that never seems to run dry wanderlog.commapquest.com. Entry is NPR 800 weekdays, a shade more on Saturday nights, refunded as non-cashable chips. Roulette wheels dominate, but ask for the Andar Bahar table if you want a lively crowd cheering every flip. Open 24/7, jacket optional, selfie sticks definitely not.
Casino Vegas by Big Daddy — friendly starter pit
Technically the company’s flagship sits way out in Dhulabari, yet a pocket-size Vegas-branded room in Baluwatar caters to beginners on a budget. The fee is a token NPR 300, the slot corridor is tight, and dealers happily walk first-timers through the rules. Come for low stakes, stay for the free masala tea refills. It’s open round the clock, but the buzz peaks around 10 pm when tour groups roll in from nearby guesthouses.
Getting There & Where to Stay
Traffic in Kathmandu can turn a five-minute hop into a 40-minute crawl. Rule of thumb: pick a hotel you can walk from, or budget NPR 600–800 per taxi each way.
| Casino | Fastest ride | Walkable hotels (≈rate/night*) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiger Palace | 30-min resort shuttle from KTM domestic | On-site villas (US $155), Siddhartha Biz (US $75), Dreamland Gold (US $50) | Shuttle times listed at reception. More on: expedia.comagoda.com |
| Casino Mahjong | 10-min cab from Thamel | Soaltee Crowne Plaza (US $140), Vivanta Kathmandu (US $110), Hotel Jampa (US $65) | Soaltee gate guards hail metered taxis. More on: casinoinnepal.com |
| Casino Royale | 5-min walk from Durbar Marg strip | Yak & Yeti (US $160), Hotel Marriott (US $200), Oasis Kathmandu (US $70) | Side gate on Durbar Marg stays open 24/7. More on: worldcasinodirectory.commapquest.com |
| Deltin Nepal | Inside Marriott, Durbar Marg | Marriott (on-site), Fairfield by Marriott (US $90), Hotel Mulberry (US $120) | Ride-share drop-off allowed in front loop. More on: mapquest.com |
| Casino Vegas | Baluwatar junction, 8-min cab from Lazimpat | Hotel Shangri-La (US $140), Radisson Kathmandu (US $130), Maya Manor Boutique (US $95) | Quiet residential street after 11 pm |
*mid-week averages, June 2025.
Transport hacks:
- Use the Pathao or InDrive app to dodge price haggling.
- Always screenshot the plate before hopping in—Kathmandu traffic police appreciate it.
- From Thamel, every listed casino except Tiger Palace is under 4 km. Walking at night is safe if you stick to lit avenues like Durbar Marg.
Game Guide—play smart, tip better
| Game | Rules snapshot | House edge† | Quick-fire tactic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackjack (6-deck, S17) | Dealer stands on soft 17, double after split | ≈ 0.6 % | 2.70% |
| Roulette (single-zero) | 37 pockets, no “La Partage” | 2.70 % | 3–5% |
| Stick to even-money streaks; walk after +6 spins. | 3-card brag, blind ante 1× | 3–5 % | 50%/50% core bet |
| Andar Bahar | 50 %/50 % core bet | 2.15 % | 2.15% |
| Baccarat (Punto Banco) | 1.06% banker | 1.06 % banker | Flat-bet banker, pocket wins, repeat. |
†House edges pulled from pit signage and audited game sheets (Feb 2025).
Why bother with edges?
Because a 3% swing over a four-hour session can be the difference between funding your next trek or hunting for an ATM at dawn.
Insider Etiquette—blend in, cash out
Honestly, Kathmandu croupiers see every rookie mistake. Dodge these:
- Dress codes: Smart-casual beats backpacker chic. Jeans are okay; sleeveless tops aren’t.
- Tipping: NPR 100 chips after a solid run keeps dealers smiling; more for high-stakes wins.
- Peak vs. quiet: Hit the floor before 8 pm if you crave elbow room; after midnight tables jam.
- Phone cams: One selfie and security will remind you that privacy trumps Instagram clout.
And yes, you can puff away—most floors remain smoking, with tiny glass boxes for “clean air.” Carry mints.
Stay Safe—licence checks & money moves
- License badge: Every legal casino in Nepal hangs a blue Department of Tourism plaque by the entrance. No plaque? Turn around.
- Cash strategy: ATMs inside hotels cap at NPR 35 000; bring a dual-currency card and withdraw in town. House FX spreads hover around 4%.
- Avoid tout vans: If a “free shuttle” lacks casino branding, it’s probably steering you to an unlicensed joint in the Valley. Politely decline.
Editor’s Pick—why Tiger Palace still roars
- Full-service resort with spa, pool, river-view rooms.
- Teen Patti epicentre—tables stay open even when Kathmandu sleeps.
- Transparent fees: NPR 1 000 entry credited straight to chips.
Looking for the most balanced casino in Nepal experience? Tiger Palace is the ticket.
Book your Nepal casino adventure now—then swing by NOWG to test our free house-edge calculator before you sit down.
FAQ
Is gambling legal in Nepal?
Yes—for foreigners 18 +. Nepali citizens can’t play.
What’s the minimum age?
18 with a passport; venues scan it at the door.
Can I use credit cards?
For hotel bills, sure. Gaming chips require cash.
Are there no-smoking sections?
A token glass booth in most casinos; the main floor allows smoking.