Cambodia to Suspend Casino-Linked Online Gambling from October

PHNOM PENH – Cambodia will suspend online gambling operations linked to land-based casinos from early October as authorities intensify action against online scams.

The measure will affect casino-based online operations nationwide, while the government is separately reviewing licensing standards for more than 100 casinos.

Prime Minister Hun Manet confirmed the suspension during the Sept. 16 inauguration of the Luang Me Cancer Hospital in Phnom Penh. Hun Manet said online gambling had become difficult to control and linked the decision to efforts targeting online scams and questionable financial flows.

Online Gambling Operations to Pause in October

The suspension is expected to begin in early October, although the government has not announced a specific effective date or a timetable for lifting the measure. Hun Manet said authorities would maintain pressure on online scam operations and prevent them from re-establishing themselves in the country.

The action concerns online gambling activity conducted through or connected to physical casino properties. It is not Cambodia’s first restriction on the sector: the government stopped issuing new online gambling licenses in 2019 and said existing licenses would not be renewed after expiry.

Authorities have nevertheless continued to identify online gambling and scam activity associated with some casino sites. The government has intensified enforcement over the past year, including raids, closures and action against casino licenses linked to suspected online fraud operations.

That campaign has already featured large-scale casino closures during Cambodia’s scam crackdown, as authorities increasingly focus on the overlap between gambling properties, online fraud and other suspected criminal activity.

More Than 100 Casino Licenses Under Review

Hun Manet also said the government is reviewing more than 100 casino licenses and questioned whether Cambodia needs its current number of gambling venues. He said licensing requirements have been tightened after earlier standards allowed some comparatively small operations to qualify as casinos.

The review is expected to place greater emphasis on investment levels, infrastructure and the broader economic contribution of casino developments. No target has been announced for how many casinos the government ultimately intends to retain, and authorities have not provided a deadline for completing the review.

The government has also maintained its position against casino development in Siem Reap, with Hun Manet reiterating that licenses will not be approved in the heritage tourism destination.

Scam Crackdown Drives Regulatory Changes

The October suspension comes amid a broader campaign against technology-related fraud. Cambodian authorities said earlier this month that 18 casino licenses had been revoked over alleged involvement in online scam activity, while another nine had been suspended pending further investigation.

The casino sector has faced growing scrutiny over links between some properties and online scam operations. Earlier enforcement actions have included casino raids targeting suspected online criminal activity as authorities attempt to separate licensed gambling operations from fraud networks.

The immediate next step will be implementation of the online gambling suspension in early October. The government has not specified how long the pause will remain in place or what regulatory conditions would have to be met before casino-linked online operations could resume.

RELATED TOPICS: Regulation