Cambodia's National Police confirmed that law enforcement inspected more than 10,000 suspected locations nationwide between September 15 and October 13, 2022, in a campaign against all forms of illegal gambling. The figures were given by Lt. Gen. Chhay Kim Khoeun, Deputy Commissioner General and spokesman for the National Police1.
Of those locations, police applied legal measures at 127 sites across 11 capitals and provinces, gathering evidence to send 273 people to court, 56 of them foreigners1. At the remaining sites, where gambling offenses were only suspected, 10,010 locations were "educated, instructed and contracted" in case they were later found to be in violation of the law, and about 13,000 people were contracted for re-education1.
The operation followed an order from Prime Minister Hun Sen on September 17, 2022. According to the account of that order:
"Prime Minister Hun Sen issued a strict order for all relevant officials, especially sub-national officials to crack down on all kinds of illegal gambling."
Hun Sen also said that if any capital or provincial governor allowed gambling to spread in their locality, he would not hesitate to remove them from their position1.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Locations where legal measures were applied | 127, in 11 capitals and provinces |
| People sent to court | 273, including 56 foreigners |
| Locations educated, instructed and contracted | 10,010 |
| People contracted for re-education | About 13,000 |
The reporting does not break the figures down by province, does not name the 11 capitals and provinces involved, and does not specify which types of gambling the 127 legal cases concerned. It also does not state how many of the 273 people sent to court were charged, detained or later released, or what penalties they face. Those details have not been reported1.
What it means for players
The campaign covers "all kinds of illegal gambling," a category that in Cambodia sits alongside licensed casino operations. Anyone gambling in the country, whether a local, an expat or a visitor, is affected by where the line between legal and illegal play falls, and by the fact that police are actively checking premises rather than only responding to complaints. The 10,010 locations that were contracted rather than prosecuted show that a large share of premises were warned and placed under notice instead of being shut down, which means a venue can be operating openly and still be one inspection away from legal action. The 56 foreigners among those sent to court indicate that non-citizens are not being treated separately in this campaign. For background on what is permitted, see Cambodia's gambling law and Can I gamble in Cambodia?. People who live in Cambodia and play abroad or online can read Gambling abroad when you live in Cambodia, and those worried about their own play can find gambling help and self-exclusion in Cambodia. Unlicensed operators are also a recurring source of fraud, covered in fake casino sites and gambling scams in Cambodia.
What happens next
The National Police statement covers the period up to October 13, 2022. No end date for the crackdown, no further inspection targets and no timetable for the court cases against the 273 people have been reported1. The prime minister's warning that governors could be removed over gambling in their localities remains in place, but no removals have been reported1.
Sources1 sources
- Over 10,000 locations raided so far in anti-illegal gambling crackdown, khmertimeskh.com
