Cambodia will suspend online gambling operations at all casinos nationwide from October as the government intensifies its campaign against online scams and financial flows from unclear sources, Interior Minister Sar Sokha announced on Saturday. The announcement was made during the inauguration of a 5,000 metre concrete road in Koh Andet district, Takeo province.
The suspension follows a decision by Prime Minister Hun Manet to strengthen oversight of online gambling and prevent illegal activities that may be connected to online scam networks. During the suspension, relevant ministries and specialised institutions will work on stronger management systems covering the legal framework, regulations, digital infrastructure and qualified personnel. The policy is expected to have significant implications for casino operators and other businesses involved in Cambodia’s gaming and hospitality sectors.
Synopsis: Cambodia is taking a tougher approach to online gambling as part of a broader campaign against online scams and suspicious financial activity. From October, online gambling operations at all casinos across the country will be suspended, with operators facing licence revocation and other legal measures if they violate the policy. The government plans to use the suspension period to strengthen the legal, regulatory and technological framework governing online gambling. The move comes alongside a major crackdown on suspected scam networks, which authorities say has resulted in tens of thousands of detentions, thousands of suspects sent to court and dozens of scam centres dismantled. For legitimate casino and tourism businesses, the policy signals a stronger regulatory environment and greater scrutiny of operations and financial flows.
Cambodia Moves to Suspend Online Gambling Nationwide
Interior Minister Sar Sokha said the nationwide suspension is intended to strengthen efforts to prevent and combat online scams and the movement of funds from unclear sources. The policy applies to online gambling operations at casinos across Cambodia and is scheduled to take effect from October.
The Interior Minister said the decision was based on Prime Minister Hun Manet’s direction to strengthen the management of online gambling and prevent illegal activities that could be associated with online scam networks. The announcement places online gambling within the government’s broader effort to address activities and financial flows that may make it difficult for authorities to identify and disrupt criminal networks.
Casinos Face Tougher Oversight From October
Sokha said investigations had found that some online gambling activities were being livestreamed from casinos. Authorities have also identified challenges associated with monitoring financial flows connected to such activities, making stronger oversight a key part of the government’s response.
During the suspension period, Hun Manet has instructed relevant ministries and specialised institutions to develop and strengthen a clearer management system for online gambling operations. The work will cover the legal framework, regulations, digital infrastructure and qualified human resources needed to manage the sector more effectively.
Online Gambling Will Need to Meet New Management Requirements
The government has indicated that online gambling operations will only be considered for resumption once the required management systems and measures have been established. This means the suspension is tied to the development of a stronger regulatory structure rather than an immediate return to existing operating arrangements.
For casino operators, the policy raises the importance of regulatory compliance, internal controls and transparent operations. Businesses operating within the legal casino and hospitality sectors will need to pay close attention to the requirements developed during the suspension period as the government works to establish a more comprehensive system for managing online gambling activities.
Licence Revocation Threatens Casinos That Ignore the Policy
Sokha warned that casinos violating the policy from October could face licence revocation and other legal measures. The warning represents one of the strongest consequences available to authorities against operators that fail to comply with the new restrictions.
The government’s approach also suggests that regulatory enforcement will extend beyond individual gambling activities to the broader operations of casinos where authorities identify links to illegal activity. For investors and business owners, the development underscores the importance of understanding Cambodia’s evolving regulatory environment and ensuring that operations comply with government requirements.
More Than 22,000 Foreign Nationals Repatriated
The online gambling suspension comes as Cambodia continues a much wider campaign against suspected online scam networks. According to figures presented during Sokha’s announcement, authorities rescued and facilitated the repatriation of more than 22,000 foreign nationals representing 38 nationalities between July last year and August 31 this year.
Authorities also prepared and sent 408 cases involving 3,477 suspects from 29 nationalities to the courts during the same period. The cases involved alleged ringleaders and other individuals linked to scam networks, highlighting the scale of the investigations being conducted as part of the government’s crackdown.
Authorities Report Thousands of Inspections and Detentions
The figures presented by authorities show that the crackdown has involved extensive inspections and raids. Officials investigated and inspected 793 suspected locations, carried out raids on 624 sites and dismantled 86 scam centres.
The operations resulted in the detention of nearly 30,000 suspects from 39 nationalities. These figures indicate that the government’s response extends across multiple locations and nationalities as authorities seek to disrupt networks suspected of involvement in online scams.
Legal Action Has Already Reached Casinos
As part of the wider crackdown, authorities have also taken legal action against 27 casinos. Of those, 18 had their licences revoked while nine had their licences suspended.
The measures demonstrate that casinos are already subject to heightened scrutiny when authorities identify activities associated with suspected scam networks or other illegal operations. The October suspension therefore comes against the backdrop of enforcement measures that have already affected a number of casino businesses.
Officials Also Face Legal Measures
The crackdown has not been limited to private sector operators. Authorities also took legal action against several officials who were found to be involved in four cases involving 15 suspects.
Those implicated included deputy prosecutors, a deputy director general of immigration, a deputy Phnom Penh municipal police commissioner, a former director general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as several other police and military officials. The involvement of officials in cases under investigation highlights the government’s stated intention to pursue suspected links to scam activities across both private and public sectors.
A Major Regulatory Shift for Cambodia’s Casino Industry
The planned suspension marks another significant development in Cambodia’s efforts to tighten control over online gambling and tackle online scam networks. While legitimate casino and tourism businesses remain important parts of the country’s hospitality economy, the government is making clear that online gambling operations will face stronger scrutiny and must operate within a more clearly defined regulatory framework.
The coming suspension period will therefore be important for the industry. The development of new legal requirements, regulations, digital systems and professional resources could determine the conditions under which online gambling operations may eventually resume. For businesses and investors, the immediate priority will be regulatory compliance, transparency and understanding the new rules as they emerge.
Cambodia’s Scam Crackdown Enters a More Intensive Phase
The suspension of online gambling at casinos is part of a broader government campaign that has involved raids, investigations, arrests, court cases and action against businesses and officials. The scale of the reported operations shows that authorities are taking a comprehensive approach to disrupting scam networks and activities that may support them.
For Cambodia’s legitimate business community, the message is increasingly clear. Stronger oversight, transparent financial activity and compliance with regulations are becoming central to operating in sectors exposed to heightened scrutiny. The government’s next challenge will be to ensure that the new management system is clear, effective and consistently enforced while maintaining confidence in legitimate investment and tourism activity.
Conclusion
Cambodia’s decision to suspend online gambling operations at all casinos from October represents a major regulatory move in the country’s continuing fight against online scams and unclear financial flows. Casinos that violate the policy could face licence revocation and other legal consequences, while the government uses the suspension period to strengthen the legal, regulatory and technological framework governing the sector.
The wider crackdown has already produced significant enforcement figures, including more than 22,000 foreign nationals repatriated, nearly 30,000 suspects detained and 86 scam centres dismantled, according to figures presented by authorities. For Cambodia’s casino, tourism and investment sectors, the direction is clear: the next phase of growth will increasingly depend on transparent operations, stronger compliance and alignment with the country’s evolving regulatory standards.