Cambodia Confirms Closure of 24 Online Casinos and Equipment Removal

The secretariat of the Ad Hoc Commission for Combating Online Scams (CCOS) reported that 24 casinos in three provinces ceased live broadcasts, online sports betting, and lotteries, removing equipment before the ultimatum deadline of September 30, 2026. Inspections were conducted in collaboration with the Commercial Gambling Management Commission of Cambodia (CGMC) and provincial authorities, and the official statement was published on October 1 by Agence Kampuchea Presse and broadcasted by the state broadcaster TVK.

What did inspectors verify about the closure of online gaming in Cambodia?

Inspection teams from the secretariat, coordinated with the CGMC and unified provincial command committees, confirmed that all 24 venues ceased "live streaming of games, sports betting, online lottery registration, and 'sporting birds' competitions" and completely dismantled and removed the equipment supporting those operations. The verification included procedural coordination with provincial courts to document the physical removal of materials.

The statement specifies the locations: twelve casinos in Preah Sihanouk Province (including Sihanoukville), seven in Banteay Meanchey (which includes the border town of Poipet), and five in Svay Rieng. The secretariat did not disclose the names of the inspected establishments.

The absolute prohibition and monitoring across the jurisdiction

The secretariat stated that as of the deadline expiration, "all online gaming and betting activities in any form, both on and off the casino premises, are absolutely prohibited." The Commission indicated it will continue monitoring the inspected sites and other locations "in other provinces across the country," and violations will be pursued "without exception or leniency."

Interior Minister Sar Sokha communicated in September that casinos violating the order would face license revocation and other legal actions. On September 16, Prime Minister Hun Manet declared that the closure "is not a temporary measure" and that licenses for casinos involved in online betting would not be renewed, according to reports from the Khmer Times and the Cambodia-China Times.

Figures on sanctions and the campaign against technological scams

In parallel with the ban, the secretariat distinguished the measure from the operation against technological scams. By September, 18 casinos linked to scams have lost their licenses and nine have been suspended while additional evidence is being gathered. The Commission is working with the CGMC, judicial police, provincial prosecutors, courts, and the Cambodia Financial Intelligence Unit to stop, freeze, and confiscate the assets of implicated owners and shareholders.

The statement adds that more than 600 locations related to scams have been closed across the country. These figures do not exactly match those reported in August, when the government indicated 20 licenses revoked and 29 suspended; the official note does not clarify the reconciliation between the two counts.

Local media reported names of casinos with revoked licenses in September, including Shang Hai Resort, Casino Ying Huang, and various Jin Bei properties. The Phnom Penh Post noted it was not indicated whether any of the 24 casinos that removed equipment were part of the revoked or suspended ones and emphasized that it was not alleged that those 24 were linked to scams.

Why the number 24 does not exhaust the issue of online gaming in Cambodia

The statement does not provide a denominator: it does not say how many casinos were operating online betting before the ultimatum, so the 24 could be the total or just a fraction. The verification only covers three provinces and omits others such as Pailin and Phnom Penh; in Pailin, Governor Ban Sreymom instructed in September eight casino companies to allow operations only for customers present on the premises.

Prime Minister Hun Manet has placed the number of licensed casinos around 100, although the Phnom Penh Post refers to "nearly 200." Until the government publishes a complete list of inspected sites, the total of 24 should be read as the first wave of confirmed compliance, not as the final proof of the end of online gaming tied to casinos.

Operational risks and the challenge of demand that does not disappear

The physical removal of equipment, verified with coordination from the courts, is a stricter control than the administrative ban in place since 2019 and conditions the status of each license before expected renewals around 2027. The first test is simple: remove the equipment. The next is more complex: demonstrate regulatory suitability for renewal.

The official text and government statements acknowledge a practical possibility: activity may shift to smaller, decentralized operations outside licensed complexes. The statement indicates a commitment to monitor the entire country, implying that future illegal operations may not develop within buildings with a license on the wall.

Renewals, requirements, and international scrutiny

The Commercial Gambling Management Commission of Cambodia (CGMC) is working on a suitability framework for license renewals. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has pointed out deficiencies in both the legal framework and the practical assessment of casino owners. The Prime Minister has indicated that a capital requirement may now be imposed, potentially reaching up to $100 million for operators wishing to maintain their license.

Houses that have already dismantled their infrastructure have surpassed the first threshold; whether they will pass the subsequent tests will depend on criteria that the regulator has not yet published. Cambodia has demonstrated capacity to inspect and remove equipment; proving to the IMF and the public that the remaining land-based gaming is clean will be the most difficult part.

"All online gaming and betting activities in any form... are absolutely prohibited," said the secretariat of the CCOS in its statement, citing compliance after the ultimatum of September 30.

For the regulated sector and service providers linked to land-based gaming, the renewal process and the new capital requirement will determine who remains in the licensed market.