Raids launched across Phnom Penh districts

Prime Minister Hun Sen on Saturday released what he called an absolute order to governors of cities, provinces and districts, police, military police and grassroots officials to crack down on all kinds of illegal gambling businesses nationwide, the Khmer Times reported on September 19, 2022¹. Raids followed in Phnom Penh, including in Boeung Keng Kang, Sen Sok, Chbar Ampov, Khan Kambol, Khan Toul Kork, Khan Russey Keo and Khan Chroy Changva¹.

The order covered illegal gambling such as on-off-line cockfighting, lottery and lucky numbers that the report said are generally set up secretly in cafes or food courts¹. Hun Sen said businesses found with illegal gambling inside must be closed permanently, and that officials or police found failing to obey the order or colluding with gambling business owners will be removed from their posts¹.

The arrests reported by district were:

In Boeung Keng Kang, authorities detained 11 people and confiscated illegal gambling paraphernalia¹. In Sen Sok, forces of the Khan Sen Sok Union Command raided an illegal revenge gambling location at the Josibiyako bar in O Bek Kaom commune in the early hours of the morning and arrested 12 men and women¹. In Tonle Bassac, Chamkar Mon District Governor Kieng Leak led a force against a gambling place on Saturday afternoon; suspects were arrested and gambling equipment seized¹.

The raids followed an emergency meeting of the Phnom Penh Municipal Unity Command led by Phnom Penh Governor Khuong Sreng, which instructed the deputy governor, municipal police, the commander of the municipal armed forces, the 14 district governors, the 14 district inspectors, market managers and relevant officials to immediately crack down on gambling¹. Hun Sen said national-level officials were occupied with fighting Covid-19 and recovering the economy, and that responsibility rested with local officials because gambling facilities are set up in their areas¹.

What it means for players

The order targets illegal gambling, not licensed operations, and the report does not describe any change to Cambodia's licensed casino or betting sector¹. For anyone in Phnom Penh, the practical effect described is enforcement at the local level: premises such as cafes and food courts where lottery, lucky numbers or cockfighting are run secretly were named as targets, and the report says such businesses must be closed permanently if illegal gambling is found inside¹. The report does not state which specific games or venues are legal, what penalties players themselves face, or whether anyone detained was charged. Those details have not been reported¹. Cambodia's rules on what gambling is permitted are set out in our guide to gambling in Cambodia, and the regional picture is covered in gambling laws in Asia.

What happens next

Hun Sen said officials who fail to act or who collude with gambling operators will be removed from their posts, and that businesses found with illegal gambling will lose their licenses¹. No timeline, further raid schedule or court process was reported¹.