Blask x NEXT.io: Nepal’s iGaming market crashes amid unrest
Summary
iGaming interest in Nepal plunged after the government ordered the blocking of 26 major social platforms on 4 September, triggering nationwide protests, curfews and platform outages. The daily Blask Index for Nepal fell ~74% — from 26.3k on 2 September to 6.6k on 9 September — illustrating a sudden collapse in top-of-funnel activity. Authorities lifted the ban on 9 September, but the damage to acquisition funnels remained visible and protests continued; the political crisis culminated in the resignation of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli.
Before the unrest Nepal was on a strong upward trajectory: the annual Blask Index rose 72% year-on-year between September 2024 and September 2025 (4.24m to 7.29m) with 48 brands active in market. The recent shock represents an abrupt break from that growth.
Key Points
- Government block of 26 platforms (including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube) sparked protests, curfews and outages.
- Blask Index dropped ~74% in a week (26.3k → 6.6k), signalling a rapid contraction in acquisition activity.
- The ban was lifted on 9 September, but disruptions and curfews continued and political turmoil followed.
- Prior growth was strong: Blask annual index +72% YoY (4.24m → 7.29m) before the unrest.
- Operators should protect unit economics, pause discretionary spend, use owned channels and scenario-plan phased reactivation tied to clear triggers.
- Monitor access stability (no rolling outages/throttling) and regulatory signals that could impose new marketing or local entity requirements.
Why should I read this?
Short version: if you run or market iGaming in Nepal (or target nearby markets), this is crucial. Political decisions can wipe out weeks of acquisition overnight — we’ve read the mess so you don’t have to. The piece tells you how big the hit was, why it happened, and practical next steps to protect margins and plan a safe return.
Source
Source: https://next.io/news/results/blask-nepals-igaming-market-crashes-unrest/
Methodology note: The Blask Index tracks open-source signals of iGaming market interest and refreshes hourly; it is not a revenue measure.