Cambodia's Telecommunication Regulator (TRC), working with the National Police, shut down 123 websites that operated illegal online gambling and lottery in the country, the regulator said in a statement on January 27, 20221. The Phnom Penh Post reported the action on January 29, 2022, and the Khmer Times reported it on January 28, 20221.
The TRC said it had previously blocked 79 websites providing the same services on November 16, 20211. The two figures together cover 202 blocked sites across the two actions.
The regulator tied the blocks to a government circular issued on August 16, 2019, which was intended to control online electronic and internet-based gambling operating from abroad and inside the country, with the stated aim of maintaining security and public order2. The TRC said the sites are illegal and against that circular2.
"TRC will continue to work with the National Police and relevant authorities in charge of telecommunication operations to shut down all the websites that operate online gambling and lottery as they are illegal and against the government's circular"
The Khmer Times quoted the TRC saying it would "stop all kinds and all aspects of gambling through electronic machine business via the Internet, inside and outside of the country, in order to maintain public security and social order"1.
The TRC asked the public to report websites operating illegal online gambling or lottery in the country through the hotline 6789 or its Facebook page, and said it would keep all reported information confidential1. The Khmer Times gave the Facebook page name as "និយ័តករទូរគមនាគមន៍កម្ពុជា- Telecommunication Regulator of Cambodia"1.
Neither report named any of the 123 blocked websites, said how the blocks were carried out, or stated whether anyone was arrested or charged1. No fines or penalties were reported1.
What it means for players
The blocks target the websites themselves, not the people using them. Neither report says players were arrested, fined or otherwise penalized over the 123 sites, and no enforcement action against users is described1.
For anyone in Cambodia who gambles online, the practical effect is access: a blocked site may stop loading on a domestic connection, while the same site may remain reachable through other means. The reports do not say which sites were blocked, so players cannot check a specific operator against a published list1.
The TRC's reporting channel, hotline 6789 and its Facebook page, is open to the public, and the regulator said identities of those who report will be kept confidential1. That channel is for reporting sites, not for players seeking help with a site.
Cambodia's rules on online gambling sit alongside the 2019 circular cited by the TRC, which covers gambling operated from abroad and inside the country2. The reports do not describe how those rules apply to individual players, and no detail on that has been reported1.
What happens next
The TRC said it will continue working with the National Police and other relevant authorities to shut down websites operating online gambling and lottery2. No further dates, targets or numbers of sites have been reported1.
Sources2 sources
- TRC cracks down on 123 illegal online gambling websites - Khmer Times, khmertimeskh.com
- Authorities take down gambling websites - Phnom Penh Post, phnompenhpost.com
