Cambodia Conducts Nationwide Casino Inspections as Part of Online Scam Crackdown

The Cambodian government carried out a full inspection of all 195 licensed casinos from June 2025 through June 2026, and authorities tied this effort directly to a broader campaign against online scam operations. Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith submitted the findings in a report to the Cabinet meeting held on July 24, 2026, while Prime Minister Hun Manet noted the results as a significant advancement in the ongoing initiative. The review identified 72 casinos connected to online fraud activities, which prompted immediate regulatory actions including the revocation of 19 licenses, the suspension of 30 others, and the closure of 23 additional facilities once their existing licenses expired. Officials examined every licensed property across the country during this period, and the process revealed specific patterns of involvement in fraudulent schemes that operated through digital channels. Data from the inspection showed clear connections between certain casino operations and scam centers, leading enforcement teams to coordinate with other agencies on follow-up measures. Those who reviewed the submitted report highlighted how the one-year timeline allowed for systematic checks that covered operational records, ownership structures, and links to external networks.

Key Outcomes from the Inspection Process

The sweep produced concrete results that officials presented at the July 2026 Cabinet session. Authorities revoked 19 licenses outright after confirming direct ties to online fraud, and they suspended 30 more while investigations continued. Another 23 casinos stopped operations because their licenses reached expiration without renewal approval, and this combination reduced the total number of active licensed facilities. teh report detailed how inspectors cross-referenced casino activities with known scam operations, which allowed for targeted enforcement rather than blanket measures.

Raids formed a parallel component of the crackdown, and teams targeted 737 scam centers during the same timeframe. These operations resulted in the deportation of over 21,100 individuals connected to the fraudulent activities. Government records indicate that the raids and deportations ran alongside the casino inspections, creating a coordinated approach that addressed both the physical locations and the licensed entities tied to them. Observers note that the scale of these actions reflects the extent of the networks uncovered through the review process.

Government Coordination and Reporting Timeline

The report reached the Cabinet on July 24, 2026, after the full year of inspections concluded in June. Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith compiled the data from field teams and presented it directly to Prime Minister Hun Manet and other officials. This submission marked the formal close of the initial inspection phase, and it provided a basis for further regulatory decisions. The document outlined the specific numbers of affected casinos along with details on the raids and deportations that occurred in parallel. Authorities maintained that the inspections focused exclusively on licensed properties, and they separated these efforts from actions against unlicensed operations. The findings showed that 72 of the 195 casinos had connections to online fraud, which represented a measurable portion of the sector. Officials used this information to adjust licensing policies and strengthen oversight mechanisms going forward. The one-year window allowed inspectors to gather evidence systematically while the raids removed operational centers that supported the scams.

Broader Context of Enforcement Actions

Enforcement extended beyond the casino licenses to include the 737 raided centers and the deportations that followed. Government figures reveal that these steps addressed both the facilitators and the physical sites involved in the scams. The report connected certain casino activities to the scam centers through financial flows and operational overlaps, and this linkage justified the license actions. Those who examined the data found that the combined measures produced a reduction in active fraudulent operations within the licensed casino space.

The July 2026 presentation included updates on how the inspections integrated with existing anti-scam protocols. Prime Minister Hun Manet received the report as part of the Cabinet review, and the session addressed next steps for remaining suspended licenses. Authorities continued monitoring facilities that received suspensions to determine whether full revocation or reinstatement would follow based on additional evidence. This structured approach allowed the government to apply the inspection results in a phased manner rather than through immediate mass closures.

Conclusion

The nationwide inspection of Cambodia's 195 licensed casinos concluded with clear regulatory outcomes that officials documented in the July 24, 2026 report. Nineteen licenses faced revocation, thirty entered suspension status, and twenty-three facilities closed after their permits expired, while the parallel raids removed 737 scam centers and led to more than 21,100 deportations. The findings presented by Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith supplied Prime Minister Hun Manet and the Cabinet with detailed data on connections between licensed operations and online fraud. These actions formed a single coordinated response that addressed both casino licensing and the supporting infrastructure of scam activities during the June 2025 to June 2026 period.