Cambodia Steps Up Online-Fraud Crackdown as Casino Checks Expand

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has called on provincial authorities to keep up the crackdown on online fraud networks as the country moves ahead with a broader cleanup of its casino sector. According to a Friday report in local Chinese-language outlet Cambodia China Times, the government is aiming to protect Cambodia’s international standing while maintaining a safe and orderly environment for investors and tourists.

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Casino Reviews Ordered

According to the same source, Deputy Prime Minister Aun Pornmoniroth, who is also the economy and finance minister, instructed the government departments to conduct comprehensive inspections of all the casinos in the country to ascertain whether they are licensed.

Aun Pornmoniroth said casinos found to be involved in online fraud or other illegal activities could lose their licences. He also chairs the country’s gaming regulator, the Commercial Gambling Management Commission.

The push for reviews comes as authorities continue to examine the role of casinos in the wider online-fraud problem. The government’s message appears to be that licensing checks and fraud enforcement are being handled together as part of the same effort.

Fraud Crackdown Continues

In the Friday report on the Prime Minister’s remarks, Hun Manet said the administration would be resolute in tackling online fraud because such activity affects investors’ confidence in Cambodia’s business environment. The comments were framed as part of a wider effort to strengthen trust and preserve the country’s image.

The crackdown has already produced results across the country. Cambodia’s state-run news outlet Agence Kampuchea Presse reported on Friday that authorities had targeted over 500 scam locations nationwide between early 2025 and June 22 this year, citing data from the Commission for Combating Online Scams.

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That report also said 25 casino licences had been revoked or suspended in connection with those actions. The numbers suggest the cleanup campaign is being carried out across multiple fronts, with both scam locations and casinos facing scrutiny.

Political Backdrop

The timing of the latest comments comes as Hun Sen, the former long-serving leader of Cambodia and father of Hun Manet, is in China from Thursday to Saturday on what Xinhua described as an official goodwill visit. The trip included talks with China’s leader, President Xi Jinping, and other senior officials.

The report did not link the visit directly to the casino cleanup or the online-fraud campaign, but it placed the remarks within a period of continued attention to Cambodia’s regulatory and enforcement measures.

Broader Enforcement Picture

The new developments are a clear indication of the continuous efforts by the government to ensure that the gaming industry is tightly regulated and that all online fraud rings are put to task. It is clear that the government is not ready to relent in its efforts and has directed provincial authorities to continue with the crackdown, as well as the possibility of license revocation by the casino companies.

For now, the campaign appears to be continuing on 2 parallel tracks: action against scam locations and a review of casinos that may be tied to illegal activity. The government’s latest comments indicate that both are being treated as part of Cambodia’s effort to protect its business climate and public order.

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Source: GGR Asia