Cambodia Targets Casino Fraud Through Nationwide License Reviews

Cambodia’s government carried out inspections of all 195 licensed casinos between June 2025 and June 2026 as part of efforts to address online scam operations, and the results were presented in a report by Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith at the July 24 Cabinet meeting. The review identified 72 casinos connected to fraudulent activities, which prompted immediate regulatory responses including license revocations and suspensions. The findings showed that 19 licenses were revoked outright while 30 others faced suspension, and 23 casinos stopped operations once their permits expired. These actions formed part of a coordinated push that also included raids on 737 scam centers and the deportation of more than 21,100 individuals linked to illegal operations. Data from the report indicated the scale of involvement among licensed venues and outlined how authorities documented connections between casino premises and online fraud networks.

Inspection Findings and Regulatory Responses

Inspectors examined every licensed casino across the country during the twelve-month period, and their work revealed patterns of association with scam centers that operated from or near these properties. Officials compiled evidence showing how certain venues provided cover or resources for groups conducting online fraud, leading directly to the license decisions announced in the July submission. The government applied the findings consistently, revoking permits where clear links appeared and suspending others pending further review, while allowing natural expiration to handle the remaining cases.

Prime Minister Hun Manet received the report at the Cabinet meeting and noted its contribution to ongoing enforcement measures. The document detailed the outcomes of the inspections alongside the separate raids and deportation figures, creating a single record of progress over the year. Those who reviewed the statistics observed that the combination of license actions and physical interventions addressed both the physical locations and the operational networks involved.

Additional Enforcement Actions

Alongside the casino inspections, authorities conducted raids on 737 scam centers throughout the same timeframe, and these operations resulted in the removal of more than 21,100 people through deportation processes. The report submitted by Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith integrated these numbers with the casino data, presenting a combined picture of enforcement reach. Figures revealed that many of the targeted centers maintained direct or indirect ties to the 72 casinos flagged during the review, which strengthened the case for the license interventions.

Observers noted that the one-year crackdown period allowed authorities to gather comprehensive information across multiple provinces, and the July 24 presentation marked the formal summary of those efforts. The actions taken, from revocations to deportations, followed the evidence collected rather than assumptions, and the report served as the official record submitted for Cabinet consideration. This approach connected regulatory oversight of licensed casinos with broader law enforcement targeting scam infrastructure.

Conclusion

The nationwide inspection of Cambodia’s 195 licensed casinos produced clear outcomes documented in the July 2026 report, and those results drove specific changes in licensing status for the 72 venues identified. Combined with the raids and deportations, the measures addressed both casino involvement and the larger scam networks operating during the June 2025 to June 2026 period. The information presented to the Cabinet provided a factual account of the actions completed and the numbers involved, establishing a reference point for the enforcement campaign.