30 Jul 2026
Cambodia Launches Sweeping Casino Inspections Amid Online Fraud Crackdown
Cambodian authorities completed a nationwide inspection of all 195 licensed casinos between June 2025 and June 2026, and the findings revealed that 72 of those establishments had connections to online fraud operations. The one-year report, submitted by Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith during a July 24 Cabinet meeting, outlined extensive enforcement actions that included raids on 737 online scam centers along with inspections of 28,500 locations across the country.
Scope of the Inspection Process
Inspectors examined every licensed casino operating within Cambodia's borders, and they applied uniform criteria to assess involvement in online scam activities. The process formed part of a larger government initiative aimed at dismantling networks that facilitate digital fraud, while authorities simultaneously targeted unlicensed operations that had proliferated in recent years. Data compiled during this period showed that 19 casino licenses faced outright revocation, whereas 30 others received temporary suspensions pending further review and compliance adjustments.
Enforcement Actions and Deportations
Raids extended beyond casino premises to encompass 737 dedicated online scam centers, and parallel inspections reached 28,500 separate locations suspected of housing fraudulent operations. Over 21,100 foreign nationals received deportation orders as authorities removed individuals linked to these activities from the country. These measures reflected coordinated efforts between multiple agencies that shared intelligence and executed operations in synchronized waves throughout the reporting period.
Government Response and International Ties
Prime Minister Hun Manet described the outcomes as a major step forward during the July 2026 Cabinet session, and he highlighted strengthened cooperation with international partners as a key factor that improved the effectiveness of cross-border investigations. The report noted that foreign law enforcement agencies provided critical data that helped identify operators who had shifted activities across jurisdictions. Observers note that such collaboration has accelerated the identification of scam networks that previously exploited gaps in regional oversight.
License revocations and suspensions took effect immediately after the report's submission, and affected operators received notices detailing specific violations uncovered during inspections. The one-year report into online scam crackdown (June 2025–June 2026) documented patterns of casino involvement that ranged from providing physical infrastructure for scam operations to facilitating financial transactions tied to fraudulent schemes. Those patterns prompted regulators to impose stricter ongoing monitoring requirements on remaining licensed facilities.
Broader Context of Regulatory Actions
The crackdown addressed both licensed casinos and unlicensed venues that had operated without oversight, and inspectors discovered that some locations combined traditional gaming activities with digital fraud infrastructure. Authorities seized equipment and records that later supported prosecutions in multiple jurisdictions. Figures from the report indicate that enforcement teams prioritized high-risk areas first before expanding coverage to all provinces.
Conclusion
The July 2026 report marks the completion of the first full year of intensified scrutiny, and it establishes baseline data for future evaluations of Cambodia's casino sector. Continued inspections and international coordination are expected to sustain pressure on remaining fraudulent operations while allowing compliant casinos to maintain their licenses under revised guidelines.