Cambodia Targets Casino Fraud Networks in Extensive One-Year Sweep Across Licensed Operations

Cambodia’s government launched a nationwide inspection of all 195 licensed casinos between June 2025 and June 2026 as part of a coordinated effort to disrupt online scam operations, and the review produced clear results that prompted immediate regulatory action across multiple sites. The sweep identified 72 casinos connected to fraudulent activities, which triggered a series of license decisions including 19 revocations, 30 suspensions, and 23 additional closures once existing permits expired. Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith submitted a detailed report outlining these findings to the Cabinet meeting on July 24 2026, where Prime Minister Hun Manet noted the outcomes represented a substantial advance in the broader campaign against scam networks.

Officials carried out the inspections in phases across every province with licensed gaming facilities, and they cross-referenced operational data with intelligence from separate law enforcement actions that included raids on 737 scam centers during the same period. More than 21,100 individuals faced deportation as authorities dismantled groups using casino premises for online fraud coordination. Those numbers reflect coordinated work between the Ministry of Interior, gaming regulators, and local police units that shared information throughout the twelve-month window.

Scope of the Inspection Process

Inspectors visited each of the 195 licensed casinos at least once, and they examined financial records, staff rosters, and digital infrastructure to determine whether any operators facilitated illegal online activities. The process revealed patterns where certain venues hosted servers or provided physical space for call centers running investment scams and romance fraud schemes. Data from the review showed that the 72 implicated casinos represented roughly 37 percent of the total licensed market, prompting regulators to act without delay once the evidence was compiled.

License revocations took effect immediately for the 19 venues where investigators found direct operational ties, while suspensions for the 30 others allowed time for appeals or corrective measures under strict oversight. The remaining 23 sites simply stopped operating once their permits reached expiration dates, which prevented any automatic renewal for operators under scrutiny. This combination of measures reduced the number of active casinos available for exploitation while maintaining legal channels for legitimate businesses to continue.

Integration with Broader Enforcement Actions

The casino inspections formed one component of a larger strategy that also targeted standalone scam compounds outside traditional gaming zones, and authorities linked many of those 737 raided centers to the same networks previously operating from casino backrooms. Deportation figures exceeded 21,100 because many foreign nationals had entered the country on short-term visas before joining scam operations, and officials processed removals through established immigration procedures once criminal involvement was confirmed. The report submitted by Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith highlighted how these parallel tracks reinforced each other, since evidence gathered during casino checks frequently guided the timing and location of compound raids.

Prime Minister Hun Manet addressed the Cabinet after receiving the report and emphasized that the combined results demonstrated progress in reducing the country’s role as a hub for transnational fraud. Observers noted that the July 2026 presentation came at a point when international partners had increased pressure on Cambodia to address online scams, yet the government framed the actions as domestic priorities rather than external requirements. Figures from the one-year period showed consistent monthly declines in active scam-related complaints once the initial round of license actions took hold.

Regulatory Outcomes and Market Adjustments

After the license decisions, remaining operators faced heightened compliance requirements that included mandatory reporting of unusual digital traffic and regular audits of third-party vendors. The 23 casinos that ceased operations after permit expiration left gaps in certain regional markets, and some provinces reported temporary reductions in tourism revenue tied to gaming while new applicants prepared submissions under tighter criteria. Regulators have since processed a smaller number of fresh license requests, each subject to enhanced background checks that reference the findings from the 2025-2026 inspection cycle.

Those who studied the report’s data observed that the 72 affected casinos shared certain operational traits, such as unusually high volumes of international wire transfers and frequent staff turnover among foreign workers. Authorities used these indicators to prioritize future monitoring visits, which has continued into the months following the July 24 Cabinet meeting. The overall approach combined punitive measures with preventive steps, creating a framework that officials plan to maintain through at least the next licensing period.

Conclusion

The one-year crackdown delivered measurable results through the inspection of 195 licensed casinos, the identification of 72 facilities tied to fraud, and the subsequent revocation or suspension of dozens of permits alongside the closure of additional sites. Coordinated raids on 737 scam centers and the deportation of more than 21,100 individuals complemented the regulatory steps, and the report delivered to the July 24 2026 Cabinet meeting documented these outcomes for senior leadership. Prime Minister Hun Manet described the effort as a major step forward, while the data compiled by Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith continues to inform ongoing enforcement priorities across Cambodia’s gaming sector.