Cambodia halts online casino gambling from October

Cambodia will suspend all online gambling operations at casinos nationwide from October, in a move aimed at curbing scam networks and tightening financial oversight.

Interior Minister Sar Sokha announced the measure during a ceremony in Takeo province, saying the decision followed Prime Minister Hun Manet’s directive to strengthen regulation of the sector. Investigations had revealed that some casinos were livestreaming gambling activities, with financial flows linked to scams and money laundering.

During the suspension, ministries and agencies have been tasked with building a clearer management system, covering legal frameworks, digital infrastructure and trained personnel. Online gambling will only be allowed to resume once these safeguards are in place.

Casinos that defy the ban risk losing their licences and facing legal action. Authorities have already taken measures against 27 casinos in recent months, revoking 18 licences and suspending nine.

The crackdown is part of a wider campaign against transnational crime. Between July last year and August this year, officials say they rescued and repatriated more than 22,000 foreign nationals from 38 countries. Nearly 30,000 suspects from 39 nationalities were detained, while 408 cases involving 3,477 suspects were sent to court.

Police raids targeted 793 suspected sites, dismantling 86 scam centres. Several officials, including prosecutors and senior police officers, have also faced legal action for alleged involvement.

Authorities insist large‑scale scam compounds have been cleared, though smaller operations continue to surface in rented houses and vehicles. Sokha said Cambodia is working closely with international partners to ensure criminal networks cannot re‑establish bases in the country.

The suspension marks a significant shift for Cambodia’s casino industry, which has long been criticised for weak oversight and links to illicit activity. For now, the government is signalling that online gambling will remain off‑limits until robust controls are in place.

-2026-09-08