Cambodia Begins Nationwide Casino Inspections Over Online Gambling Ban

Cambodia is launching nationwide inspections of licensed casinos to enforce its ban on online gambling and identify properties that may still be hosting unauthorized betting or scam-related operations.

Cambodia has begun a new nationwide enforcement campaign targeting casinos suspected of continuing online gambling activities despite the government’s prohibition.

The Commercial Gambling Management Commission of Cambodia (CGMC) and the Commission for Combating Online Scams (CCOS) agreed on a coordinated inspection programme during an October 5 meeting. Joint teams will operate across 16 provinces and administrative areas where licensed casinos are located.

The inspections will focus on whether land-based casinos are complying with their licence conditions and the government’s explicit ban on online gambling within casino premises. CGMC secretary-general Yeth Vinel said operators found conducting unauthorized online gambling could face regulatory sanctions, while law enforcement agencies may pursue criminal proceedings.

The operation involves gambling regulators, national police, immigration authorities, labour officials, provincial administrations and prosecutors, reflecting the government’s broader effort to link gambling enforcement with its campaign against online scam networks.

The inspections follow a September 30 deadline requiring casinos to end all online gambling and betting activity. Authorities said 24 casinos in Preah Sihanouk, Banteay Meanchey and Svay Rieng had already stopped online operations by the deadline. These included live-streamed gambling, online football betting, online lotteries and online bird-fighting betting.

Cambodia has also taken stronger action against operators linked to online scams. In September, authorities reported that 18 casino licences had been revoked and nine more suspended pending further investigation, while enforcement operations had targeted more than 600 locations nationwide.

The new inspection campaign shows that Cambodia is moving from formal prohibition to active enforcement inside licensed casino properties. For operators, compliance with licence conditions and the separation of land-based casino activity from prohibited online gambling will now face significantly closer scrutiny.