Cambodia has shut down online gambling operations at 24 casinos across three provinces. Operators removed equipment ahead of the September 30 deadline set by the government for halting such activities nationwide.
The closures affected 12 casinos in Preah Sihanouk province, seven in Banteay Meanchey and five in Svay Rieng. Live game streams, online football betting and lottery operations have been stopped. The secretariat of the special task force against online fraud (CCOS) said online gambling is now prohibited both inside casinos and beyond, with violators facing prosecution 'without exception or leniency'.
Prime Minister Hun Manet ordered the suspension of casino-based online betting from October. Interior Minister Sar Sokha announced the measure in September, explaining that streams from casinos complicated monitoring of unclear financial flows. Operators risk licence revocation.
Cambodia stopped issuing new online licences in 2019 and let expiring permits lapse. The current sweep targeted operations that continued from land-based casino premises. As of September, 18 licences had been revoked over links to online fraud schemes, with nine more casinos under investigation. Authorities have cleared over 600 suspect locations as part of the broader anti-scam campaign.
