A casino in Cambodia’s Svay Rieng province has had its licence suspended after a major police raid uncovered a transnational cyber fraud operation, leading to the arrest of 23 foreign nationals.

 

The Silver Star Casino was raided on 1 November by Cambodia’s cybercrime taskforce, working in coordination with the Commercial Gambling Commission and the National Police. The operation followed suspicions that the venue was being used as a front for technology-based fraud.

 

Authorities seized 24 call centre phones, 20 mobile phones, and 19 passports during the raid. Among those arrested were nationals from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, the Philippines, Nepal, India, Nigeria, and Algeria. Three alleged ringleaders—a Chinese, a Taiwanese, and a Malaysian national—have been sent to Svay Rieng Provincial Court for prosecution under Cambodian law.

 

Officials believe the Algerian detainee may have been a victim rather than a perpetrator. The remaining 20 suspects have been transferred to the General Department of Immigration for deportation proceedings.

 

In response to the findings, the Cambodian Gambling Commission has revoked the casino’s operating licence, citing sufficient evidence of criminal activity. The government has vowed to pursue all individuals involved in cyber fraud “without exception”.

 

The raid underscores Cambodia’s intensifying efforts to clean up its gambling sector and combat the rise of scam operations, many of which have been linked to regional criminal networks. The country has faced mounting international pressure to address its role as a hub for cybercrime, particularly in border provinces where casinos often operate with limited oversight.

 

This latest crackdown signals a tougher stance from Phnom Penh, as it seeks to restore credibility and reassure foreign partners of its commitment to rule of law and financial integrity.

 

 

-2025-11-03

So....they had a casino/gambling license
and instead decided to run a boiler room... (insert facepalm emoji)

Only one Nigerian, that looks like an almost legit operation.