Cambodia's Commercial Gambling Management Committee (CGMC) discussed draft suitability criteria for casino licence renewals at a meeting chaired by Secretary General Yeth Vinel on 4 September. The regulator plans to set minimum standards tied to current law and the need to strengthen the country's commercial gambling sector, though it has not disclosed specific assessment criteria or a timeline.
The framework is part of a broader crackdown on online fraud and illegal activity at casino premises. Between July 2025 and 31 July 2026, Cambodian authorities inspected 195 licensed casinos. Twenty operators lost their licences, another 29 were suspended for links to online fraud, and 23 ceased operations after their licences expired.
Authorities also inspected 751 sites suspected of involvement in online scam operations and shut down 605. CGMC has moved against individual properties: in May it revoked the licence of Casino Ying Huang in Sihanoukville after uncovering ties to online fraud, illegal weapons and drugs. A month earlier, Shang Hai Resort in Svay Rieng province lost its licence on the same grounds.
The licence renewal criteria are part of a wider government strategy to clean up the industry. In August, Cambodia announced plans to gradually reduce the number of casinos in the country, and from October online betting based at casinos has been suspended.
