Cambodia’s gambling market loses online momentum after 91 casino closures

Cambodia’s casino and online gambling sector has shown a sharp fall in digital interest after authorities intensified their campaign against scam-linked gambling venues, with Blask reporting a 30.7% decline in the country’s online engagement index.

Cambodia’s gambling market has come under renewed pressure after a nationwide enforcement campaign led to the closure of 91 casinos allegedly linked to online scam operations. According to the latest weekly data from iGaming market intelligence platform Blask, Cambodia’s online engagement index fell by 30.7%, making the country one of the sharpest downward movers in the Asia-Pacific region during the reporting period. Blask linked the drop to the April 26 order that revoked the licences of 91 casinos in a coordinated enforcement action.

The closures form part of a broader campaign against cybercrime networks, illegal online gambling and scam compounds. Cambodian authorities said they had raided more than 250 suspected online scam centres over the past nine months. A government statement reported by Xinhua also said that 13,039 foreign nationals from 33 nationalities had been deported in connection with online scam operations, while 241,888 people had voluntarily left Cambodia between mid-January and April 19 as enforcement intensified.

Industry reporting indicates that the 91 casinos were accused of either directly operating online scam activities or hosting scam-compound operations. GGRAsia reported that the closures followed a visit to Phnom Penh by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who met Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on April 22 and urged stronger action against cross-border gambling and online fraud.

The latest market reaction is significant because Blask’s data does not measure casino revenue directly, but rather online demand and engagement around gambling activity. A 30.7% fall therefore suggests that the enforcement campaign has affected visibility, search behaviour and digital interest in Cambodia’s gambling sector. This is especially relevant in a market where casino venues, online operators and scam-linked activity have often overlapped in public and regulatory discussions.

Cambodia has also moved to strengthen its legal framework. According to GGRAsia, a new anti-online scam law took effect on April 6, introducing penalties of up to life imprisonment in cases where scam operations result in death. The Associated Press previously reported that Cambodia’s proposed legal framework targeted technology fraud sites, money laundering and scam-centre operations, amid wider concern over forced labour and transnational fraud networks.

For Cambodia, the crackdown may help improve its international reputation after years of scrutiny over scam compounds and illegal online gambling. However, the short-term effect for the gambling market is clearly negative: lower digital engagement, reduced operator visibility and greater uncertainty for casino-linked businesses. If enforcement continues, Cambodia’s gambling sector may become smaller but more closely regulated, with future growth depending on whether authorities can separate licensed gaming activity from criminal online operations.