Cambodian casino empire tied to scam hub

A Cambodian tycoon’s casino and real estate group has been linked to one of Southeast Asia’s largest scam compounds, according to documents uncovered by Reuters.

Lim Heng Group, which owns the Royal Hill Resort and Casino on the Thai-Cambodian border, leased three buildings in its compound to a Chinese national for $200,000 a month. Those buildings were later found to house fake police stations and bank offices used in global fraud operations. The site was bombed by Thai forces last December and is now under military control.

Investigators say thousands of trafficked workers were forced to run scams inside the compound, including romance fraud and impersonation of foreign authorities. Victims worldwide were targeted, with Americans alone losing an estimated $10 billion to such schemes in 2024.

While Reuters found no evidence that Lim Heng Group directly organised the scams, the company had been warned of possible trafficking at its property months before. Cambodian authorities, however, continued to describe Royal Hill as a hotel, even as images of fake police stations circulated internationally.

Casinos across Cambodia have long been associated with criminal syndicates, offering cover for illicit profits. Lim Heng himself is well connected, holding a royal title and donating to the military. Rights groups argue that scam centres thrive because they require infrastructure, land and protection from powerful elites.

The revelations raise questions about how deeply Cambodia’s casino industry is entangled with transnational crime, and whether government pledges to eradicate scam hubs can be trusted. For now, Royal Hill stands as a stark symbol of how gambling empires and human trafficking intersect at the border.

-2026-07-16