Cambodia launches nationwide casino sweep over online gambling
Cambodia is preparing to inspect casinos across the country as authorities escalate a crackdown on online gambling and cyber-scam operations operating from licensed casino premises.
Multi-agency inspection teams will begin visiting casinos during October across 16 provinces where licensed casinos operate, according to Cambodia’s state news agency Agence Kampuchea Presse.
The inspections will check whether casinos are complying with their licences and Cambodia’s prohibition on online gambling operations.
The Commercial Gambling Management Commission of Cambodia and Commission for Combating Online Scams are coordinating the operation alongside police, immigration authorities, labour officials, provincial governments and prosecutors.
Authorities have identified two immediate priorities: ensuring casinos are no longer hosting online gambling and preventing casino properties from being used for cyber-scam operations.
The latest action follows a September 30 deadline for casinos to stop online gambling activities.
Cambodian authorities said 24 gambling venues had already ceased online casinos operations and removed associated equipment by the time that deadline passed.
That included 12 casinos in Preah Sihanouk, seven in Banteay Meanchey and five in Svay Rieng.
Activities ordered to stop included gambling livestreams, online football betting, online lotteries and online bird fighting betting.
The crackdown goes considerably further than simply ordering gambling operators to shut their online platforms.
Authorities say casinos found continuing unauthorised online gambling can face administrative sanctions, while suspected criminal activity can be referred to law enforcement agencies and prosecutors.
Cambodia has already taken action against a substantial number of casino operators.
As of September, the government said 18 casino licences had been revoked after operators were linked to online scam activity, while another nine licences had been suspended pending further investigation.
Authorities carried out enforcement operations at more than 600 locations nationally as part of the broader campaign against online scams.
One earlier operation resulted in the licence of Shanghai Resort being revoked after investigators discovered alleged online scam activity at its Svay Rieng casino.
Police detained 107 foreign nationals and seized more than 1,400 smartphones alongside computers, laptops and other equipment during the April raid.
The October inspections represent the next stage of the crackdown, shifting the focus towards coordinated checks across Cambodia’s wider licensed casino industry.
