Dechen Dolkar

The Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority (CCAA) has launched investigations into two online platforms—’Hamster Kombat’, a popular virtual game, and ‘Druksky,’ an online gambling site—over concerns that they may be illegal operations.

A CCAA official confirmed that an inquiry into ‘Hamster Kombat’ is underway and that the CCAA is currently reviewing its mode of operation. 

The game has gained traction on Telegram and many Bhutanese are playing this online game.

Hamster Kombat is a viral crypto-based game on Telegram which allows players to mine virtual Hamster coins through a simulated crypto exchange without requiring any real-money investment.

The CCAA is investigating how the game operates within the market. There have also been reports of some parents permitting their children to participate in the game

In a related case, the CCAA has referred the online gambling platform ‘Druksky’ to the police for further investigation.

Gambling activities are considered illegal under Bhutan’s Penal Code (Amendment) Act of 2021.

The official mentioned  that to participate in Druksky, individuals must deposit a minimum of Nu 100 and a maximum of Nu 1,000 to become members. Players can choose from various games, for which they have to pay Nu 10 per game.

Winners receive 200 percent of their game fee, which is Nu 30. But players must accumulate at least Nu 1,000 in their accounts before they can withdraw any funds.

In a separate matter, the CCAA is addressing a complaint from a cement agent regarding the sale of underweight cement bags. The investigation revealed that some bags weighed between 44kg and 50kg, rather than the standard 50kg.

The official said that the factory cannot be blamed for the underweight supply since several middlemen were involved in the distribution. The underweight issue was found only with a particular agent.

The CCAA also discovered that the cement agent was selling the cement at prices higher than the prescribed rate.

The CCAA has forwarded the agent’s name to the cement factory and the contractual agreement has been terminated.

In August, the CCAA received 11 complaints, comprising 10 individual grievances and one general complaint. Six of these cases were resolved to the satisfaction of the complainants while two were withdrawn due to insufficient evidence. The remaining three cases are still under investigation and mediation.