Cambodia Launches Extensive Casino Inspection Revealing Fraud Links in Licensed Operations

Government teams carried out a complete sweep of Cambodia's 195 licensed casinos during a coordinated one-year effort that ran from June 2025 through June 2026, and investigators identified 72 of those properties as participants in online fraud schemes. The operation formed part of a larger campaign targeting scam centers, where authorities raided 737 locations and examined 28,500 sites in total while collecting evidence that led to license actions against dozens of casinos.

Scope of the One-Year Enforcement Drive

Authorities focused resources on both physical raids and systematic reviews because operators had blended legitimate casino activities with digital fraud networks, and the effort produced hundreds of court cases that continue to move through the judicial system. Data compiled by Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith documented the scale of involvement, showing how roughly one-third of licensed casinos had crossed into prohibited online operations during the review period.

Teams inspected every licensed property to verify compliance with national gaming rules, and they discovered patterns where certain venues hosted servers or call centers connected to scam rings that targeted victims across borders. The inspections extended beyond casino floors to include surrounding compounds and staff housing because operators often concealed equipment in adjacent buildings.

License Actions and Deportation Outcomes

Regulators revoked or suspended operating permits for multiple casinos after confirming their roles in the fraud networks, while remaining properties received warnings and additional monitoring requirements to prevent future violations. Foreign nationals linked to the scam operations faced removal proceedings, and officials deported more than 21,100 individuals by the close of the campaign.

Deportations targeted workers who had entered the country on gaming-related visas yet participated in online schemes, and authorities coordinated with embassies to complete removals efficiently. Court filings advanced in parallel with the deportations, producing cases that addressed both corporate violations and individual criminal conduct across multiple provinces.

Report Presentation to National Leadership

Prime Minister Hun Manet received the compiled findings from Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith in late July 2026, and the document outlined every phase of the crackdown including raid counts, inspection totals, and enforcement results. The submission occurred ahead of a Cabinet meeting scheduled for 24 July 2026, allowing ministers to review progress before further policy decisions.

Officials noted that the completed report marked a measurable advance in efforts to separate legitimate gaming from criminal enterprises, and the statistics demonstrated both the breadth of the problem and the reach of enforcement measures. Figures released with the report showed how inspections uncovered hidden infrastructure that supported online fraud at dozens of sites, prompting immediate license interventions.

Broader Context of Regulatory Reforms

Cambodia's gaming sector had expanded rapidly in prior years, attracting foreign investment and operators who sometimes operated without full transparency, yet the one-year campaign shifted focus toward accountability. Inspectors cross-referenced casino records with digital evidence gathered from raided centers, and this approach allowed authorities to build stronger cases for prosecution.

Cooperation between multiple agencies enabled the simultaneous execution of raids across distant regions, reducing opportunities for operators to relocate equipment or personnel before inspections began. The resulting data set provided a clear baseline for future oversight, because every licensed casino now carries updated compliance status in government databases.

Conclusion

The nationwide inspection and enforcement actions delivered documented results that included license revocations, mass deportations, and ongoing court proceedings, and these outcomes followed directly from the systematic review of all 195 licensed casinos. The report presented to Prime Minister Hun Manet summarized the findings and positioned the completed work as an important phase in ongoing regulatory efforts. Observers can access the full details through official channels once the Cabinet completes its review of the submitted materials.