Following Prime Minister Hun Manet’s announcement that the online gambling and betting shutdown would be permanent, the Government has reiterated this stance. As the deadline to cease operations expired, many operators did so voluntarily, while enforcement will now target those that did not.
According to the Ad Hoc Commission for Combatting Online Scams, 24 casinos in Preah Sihanouk, Banteay Meanchey and Svay Rieng provinces ceased all online gambling and betting operations after Wednesday's deadline expired: 12 in Preah Sihanouk, seven in Banteay Meanchey and five in Svay Rieng.
The activities terminated included live-streaming of gambling, online football betting, online lottery operations and online cock-fighting betting. Equipment and materials were also dismantled and removed from the premises.
Authorities will continue closely monitoring these locations and other areas nationwide. Any violations will face legal action without exception or leniency, to maintain security, public order and social safety.
The CCOS also reported that it has cracked down on and cleared more than 600 locations suspected of involvement in online scams. It continues to work with the Commercial Gambling Management Commission of Cambodia (CGMC) to investigate casinos suspected of secretly conducting or providing premises for technology-related scam activities.
As of September, the licences of 18 casinos linked to online scam activities had been revoked, while nine others had been suspended pending further investigation and evidence collection.
For those casinos, the Secretariat continues to cooperate with the CGMC, judicial police, prosecutors, provincial courts and the Cambodia Financial Intelligence Unit to seize, freeze and confiscate assets belonging to site owners and shareholders involved.
The CCOS also reaffirmed its openness to receiving information from the public, particularly partners and international organisations
