Amnesty International has alleged that licensed casinos in Cambodia remain closely connected to online scam compounds linked to trafficking, torture, and forced labour, despite government claims of an ongoing crackdown. In a new report, the rights group said Cambodian authorities continued approving casino projects in late 2025 and early 2026 even as documented abuse cases remained tied to formally recognised gambling properties.
Amnesty Finds Overlap Between Licensed Casinos and Scam Compounds
Amnesty said its investigation uncovered direct overlap between officially licensed casino sites and locations where survivors reported being imprisoned and abused. Using maps from Cambodia’s Commercial Gambling Management Commission, satellite imagery, and victim testimony, the organization identified at least 11 cases where scam operations were reportedly operating inside facilities registered as licensed casinos, restaurants, residential buildings, or office buildings.
Licences Issued During Crackdown Claims
The report questions Cambodia’s enforcement narrative, noting that authorities issued the latest casino licences between December 2025 and January 2026—the same period they publicly promoted a nationwide campaign against scam centres. Amnesty argued that conditions on the ground contradict official commitments to dismantle these networks.
Survivors Describe Cross-Border Trafficking System
Witnesses Amnesty interviewed between 2024 and 2026 described what the organization called a structured cross-border trafficking system. Victims from multiple countries said criminals lured them to Cambodia through false job offers and later confined them in compounds controlled by organized groups.
Amnesty said the networks often involved Chinese nationals or dual nationals and alleged that they maintained ties to Cambodia’s ruling elite.
Casinos Named in Report Include Crown Chain and Majestic
The report linked several properties to the Crown casino chain, which Anco Brothers owns. Amnesty also cited the Majestic Hotel & Casino in Sihanoukville, noting that authorities indicted its owner in January on charges including illegal recruitment for exploitation, aggravated fraud, organised crime, and money laundering.
Other sites referenced included Golden Sea Casino, Peak Casino, and Marinan International.
Testimony Describes Torture and Forced Financial Activity
One survivor told Amnesty that guards held her for months inside a casino-linked compound in Poipet near the Thai border and used shock batons to control detainees. She also said the group forced her to open a bank account that they may have used for money laundering.
Amnesty said survivors repeatedly identified violence occurring inside compounds that also housed casinos, and stated that at least a dozen facilities remain connected to forced labour, trafficking, and torture.
Amnesty Calls for Accountability and Investigation
“This research establishes a clear link between Cambodia’s licensed casinos and its scamming compounds,” said Amnesty International Co-Regional Director Montse Ferrer, describing the exploitation as “industrialized.”
Ferrer called for stronger investigations and accountability across the full economic chain, questioning why casino properties with documented links to trafficking and abuse were still receiving official approval. Amnesty warned that as long as these licences remain active, individuals on casino property remain at risk of exploitation.
No Response Reported From Authorities or Firms
The report builds on Amnesty’s earlier findings. In June 2025, the organization said it documented more than 50 scam centres in Cambodia, many linked to casinos, and previously accused the Cambodian government of complicity with criminal groups. Amnesty said it contacted Cambodian authorities and the companies named in the report but received no response before publication.
