TLDR Cambodia will suspend all online gambling linked to land-based casinos starting in October Interior Minister Sar Sokha says the order came directly from Prime Minister Hun Manet The move targets technology scams and illegal cash flows Casinos that ignore the suspension risk losing their licenses Regulator CGMC is building a new evaluation framework for casino license renewals
Cambodia’s government has announced that online gambling linked to land-based casinos will be suspended starting in October. The order applies across the country.
Interior Minister Sar Sokha shared the news in a report by local outlet Khmer Times on Monday. He said the goal is to fight technology-related scams and stop illegal cash flows.
Sokha said the suspension was ordered directly by Prime Minister Hun Manet. He said the decision followed a review carried out by local authorities.
That review found that live-streamed online gambling makes it harder to track cash flow. It also makes it tougher to catch tech-based crime.
Once the suspension takes effect, the government plans to build a clear system to manage this type of gambling. Officials have not shared full details of that plan yet.
Stiff Regulatory Measures Against Non-Compliance
Sokha said online gambling can only return once proper safeguards are in place. He added that the prime minister has already asked officials to draft strict rules.
Casinos that keep running live-streamed games after the October deadline could lose their licenses. They may also face further legal action.
This is not Cambodia’s first move against online gambling. Back in 2019, the country stopped issuing new permits for gambling businesses that operate purely online.
Cambodia has also worked to tighten its casino rules under the Law on the Management of Commercial Gambling. That law set up a legal system for overseeing casinos nationwide.
Regulator Prepares