Cambodian Authorities Act on Casino Fraud Findings from Extensive Nationwide Probe

Cambodia completed a one-year crackdown on online scams that ran from June 2025 through June 2026, and the resulting government report outlined concrete enforcement steps taken against licensed casinos tied to fraudulent activity. Inspectors examined every one of the country’s 195 licensed casinos and determined that 72 had connections to online fraud operations. Those findings produced immediate regulatory consequences that included license revocations, suspensions, and voluntary closures once permits expired.

Key Outcomes from the Inspection Process

The report, presented during a July 2026 Cabinet meeting, recorded that authorities revoked 19 casino licenses outright while suspending 30 additional licenses for varying periods. Another 23 casinos stopped operating after their existing licenses reached expiration and renewal applications were denied. These actions removed a substantial number of venues from the regulated market and disrupted networks that had facilitated online scam activities. Data compiled during the review showed that the 72 implicated casinos represented more than one-third of the total licensed establishments operating at the start of the period.

Raids formed a central part of the enforcement campaign, with officials targeting 737 separate scam centers across multiple provinces. Teams seized equipment, froze financial accounts linked to fraudulent transactions, and detained individuals identified during the operations. The coordinated effort extended beyond physical sites to include digital monitoring that traced payment flows back to casino premises. Figures released alongside the report indicated that these combined measures produced measurable reductions in the volume of scam-related traffic originating from licensed gambling locations.

Timeline and Scope of Enforcement Actions

Work began in June 2025 with initial audits of casino records and cross-referencing of transaction data against known scam patterns. Throughout the following twelve months, inspectors conducted unannounced visits, reviewed surveillance footage, and interviewed staff at every licensed property. By the end of June 2026 the full scope of involvement had been documented, allowing regulators to issue decisions that took effect in the weeks immediately afterward. Prime Minister Hun Manet addressed the Cabinet and characterized the compiled results as a major step forward in ongoing efforts to dismantle scam hubs operating under the cover of legitimate casino licenses.

The inspection covered both urban casinos in Phnom Penh and smaller venues located near border crossings where online operations had expanded rapidly in prior years. Investigators noted that many of the implicated sites shared infrastructure such as high-speed internet connections and dedicated server rooms that supported large-scale call centers. Once evidence established direct links to fraud, regulators moved quickly to separate those operations from the broader licensed sector. Observers tracking the process noted that the staggered timeline of revocations and suspensions allowed authorities to maintain public order while still applying consistent penalties.

Additional Measures and Ongoing Monitoring

Beyond license actions, the report described strengthened oversight protocols introduced during the final months of the campaign. These included mandatory reporting of large financial transfers, real-time monitoring of online betting platforms housed within casino facilities, and requirements for operators to maintain detailed logs of all internet traffic. Government teams continue to conduct spot checks at remaining licensed properties to verify compliance with the new standards. Data from the one-year period showed that the combination of raids and regulatory pressure produced a documented decline in the number of active scam centers operating under casino roofs.

Authorities also coordinated with financial institutions to block accounts tied to the 737 raided locations, which reduced the ability of scam networks to process funds through regulated channels. The report recorded that several former casino operators whose licenses were revoked have faced separate criminal proceedings, while others have been placed on watch lists that prevent re-entry into the gambling sector. These steps formed part of a broader strategy aimed at preventing the re-emergence of similar operations once the initial enforcement wave concluded.

Conclusion

The July 2026 presentation of the one-year report marked the formal close of the intensive inspection phase that began in June 2025. With 72 casinos identified out of 195, followed by 19 revocations, 30 suspensions, and 23 closures after license expiration, the Cambodian government documented a clear reduction in venues available for online fraud activity. Raids on 737 scam centers and the accompanying financial restrictions completed the enforcement picture outlined by Prime Minister Hun Manet. The resulting regulatory framework now governs the remaining licensed casinos under tighter reporting and monitoring requirements.