Cambodia will begin nationwide inspections of casinos this month as authorities step up enforcement of the country’s ban on online gambling conducted within casino premises.
Joint Inspections Target Casino Operations
The Commercial Gambling Management Commission of Cambodia (CGMC) will lead joint inspections to determine whether land-based casinos comply with their licence conditions.
CGMC Secretary-General Yeth Vinel said authorities would impose administrative sanctions when inspectors identify unauthorised online gambling. Officials would also work with law enforcement agencies to pursue potential criminal charges.
The inspection plans were discussed during an October 5 meeting between the CGMC and the Secretariat of the Commission for Combating Online Scams (CCOS). Representatives from 16 jurisdictions with casino operations attended the meeting alongside labour officials, police, immigration authorities, provincial administrations and prosecutors.
Authorities Intensify Online Gambling Enforcement
Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith, standing vice chairman of the CCOS and head of its secretariat, said authorities would continue taking strong action against locations connected to online scams.
The inspections follow Prime Minister Hun Manet’s decision to suspend casino-based online betting from October. Interior Minister Sar Sokha previously said livestreamed gambling from casinos made it more difficult for authorities to monitor financial flows of unclear origin.
24 Casinos Already Halted Online Gambling
Authorities set September 30 as the deadline for casinos to stop online gambling operations. An earlier enforcement update reported that 24 casinos in Preah Sihanouk, Banteay Meanchey and Svay Rieng provinces had ended such activities and removed related equipment.
The operations included gambling livestreams, online soccer betting and online lotteries. The new nationwide inspections will extend enforcement efforts across Cambodia’s casino sector.
