Cambodian govt to suspend online gambling operations linked to land-based casinos from October: report

The government of Cambodia has announced the suspension of online gambling operations across all land-based casinos nationwide, effective from October. The move aims to combat technology-related scams and illicit cash flows, Interior Minister Sar Sokha said, as reported on Monday by local newspaper Khmer Times. The suspension was ordered directly by Prime Minister Hun Manet, the minister stated. Mr Sokha said the decision was taken after a review by local authorities highlighted how live-streamed online gambling hampers efforts to monitor cash flows and tackle tech-enabled crime. Following implementation of the suspension, the government plans to establish a “clear and effective management system” for this form of gambling, according to the media outlet. Online gambling will resume only after comprehensive safeguards are in place, Mr Sokha noted, adding that the prime minister had already instructed relevant bodies to establish strict regulatory measures. Casinos that fail to comply with the suspension of live-streamed gaming operations face licence revocation and further legal action, according to the minister. In recent years, Cambodia has tightened oversight of its casino industry under the Law on the Management of Commercial Gambling. The legislation established a formal regulatory framework for the country’s casino sector, providing the legal basis for the licensing and supervision of commercial gambling operations. Cambodia’s casino regulator is currently preparing an “integrity and quality” evaluation framework to assess casino licence renewals, according to an announcement on Friday by the nation’s Commercial Gambling Management Commission. The latest move follows Cambodia’s earlier crackdown on online gambling. In 2019, it was reported that the Southeast Asian nation would cease issuing new permits to purely online gambling businesses.