Cambodia's National Police said authorities raided more than 10,000 suspected illegal gambling operations nationwide during a month-long crackdown, enforcing the law at 127 locations in 11 provincial capitals and other areas1. National Police spokesman Lieutenant General Chhay Kim Khoeun gave the figures at a press conference on the achievements of the Ministry of Interior over the past five years1.
"From September 15 to October 13, authorities raided the suspected locations and took legal action against 127 locations," he said1.
Khoeun said authorities collected evidence to send to court and build a case against 273 people, including 56 foreigners representing 11 nationalities1. He said other suspected locations did not have enough concrete evidence to build a case, but owners were instructed and made to sign a contract not to engage in gambling or face the law1. The report also said more than 200 people were arrested and sent to court over the month1.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Period | September 15 to October 13, 2022 |
| Suspected sites raided | More than 10,000 |
| Locations with legal action | 127, in 11 provincial capitals and other areas |
| People sent to court | 273, including 56 foreigners of 11 nationalities |
Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered a strict crackdown on what he called "anarchic" illegal gambling nationwide and warned of reprimanding officials who fail to implement his instructions1. He said unlicensed gambling did not benefit the national economy but led to gambling addiction and people being forced to sell property such as cows, buffaloes or houses1. He also ordered the closure of all cafes, noodle shops and all locations that allowed gambling1.
Heng Kimhong, head of the Research and Advocacy Programme at the Cambodian Youth Network Association, said the current crackdown was ordered and followed government guidelines, and that authorities had tried to identify the masterminds behind illegal gambling dens1.
"Cambodia has had a law governing gambling for a long time, but the authorities have been unwilling to crack down on illegal gambling at all,"
What it means for players
The crackdown targeted unlicensed operations, not the casinos and other venues that hold valid licenses under Cambodia's gambling laws. The reported enforcement covered 127 locations across 11 provincial capitals and other areas, and owners of other suspected sites signed contracts not to allow gambling1. For anyone in Cambodia, the practical effect described is that premises such as cafes and noodle shops that permitted betting were ordered closed, and that people connected to the 273 cases sent to court included 56 foreigners from 11 nationalities1. The report does not say which nationalities, which locations, or what penalties those sent to court may face, and no details have been reported on how the cases were resolved.
What happens next
The reported enforcement period ended on October 13, 20221. Hun Sen warned that officials who failed to carry out his instructions would be reprimanded1. No further steps, timelines or outcomes for the 273 cases have been reported.
Sources1 sources
- Police raid over 10,000 gambling dens nationwide, khmertimeskh.com
