Cambodian authorities raided and shut down more than 9,000 illegal gambling places across all 25 capitals and arrested 13,032 people, including 5,589 females, during a crackdown that ran from 15 September to 1 October 20221. The figures were given by Sok Phal, Chairman of the Task Force to Suppress All Types of Illegal Gambling, according to the Ministry of Interior1.
The operation began on 15 September, following an order from Prime Minister Hun Sen to suppress illegal gambling in the Kingdom1. On 16 September, Hun Sen issued a decision establishing a Gambling Suppression Task Force1. The resolution setting up the body states that the working group to crack down on illegal gambling of all kinds has roles and responsibilities including planning, measures and guidelines for authorities at all levels1.
"from September 15 to October 1, the authorities cracked down on more than 9,000 illegal gambling places in all 25 capitals and they have arrested 13,032, including 5,589 females"
The same report describes the period as a 17-day crackdown and says authorities across the country raided and shut down more than 9,000 gambling sites1. It also states in its opening line that more than 10,000 people were arrested, a figure that differs from the 13,032 attributed to Sok Phal later in the same article1. No breakdown by province, by type of gambling, or by charge has been reported, and the report does not say how many of those arrested were charged, released or convicted1.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Crackdown period | 15 September to 1 October 2022 |
| Days | 17 |
| Illegal gambling places shut | More than 9,000 |
| Areas covered | All 25 capitals |
| People arrested | 13,032 |
| Females among those arrested | 5,589 |
What it means for players
Cambodia's gambling laws distinguish between licensed casino operations and illegal gambling, and this operation targeted the latter, described in the report as illegal gambling places and sites1. The raids covered all 25 capitals, so the enforcement was nationwide rather than confined to one city1. Anyone in Cambodia, whether a resident, an expat or a visitor, should be aware that unlicensed venues and operators were the stated target of the task force, whose remit covers illegal gambling of all kinds1. The report does not identify which specific games or venue types were raided, and it does not state whether online operators were among the 9,000 sites1. For background on how Cambodia treats offshore and online operators, see Is It Illegal to Use Offshore Gambling Sites in Asia? and Blocked Gambling Sites and VPN Use: The Law in Asia. Country-level detail is in Can I Gamble in Cambodia?, and Fake Casino Sites and Gambling Scams in Cambodia covers fraudulent operators.
What happens next
No further steps have been reported. The report gives no date for the task force's next phase, no court schedule for those arrested, and no statement on whether the crackdown will continue beyond 1 October 20221.
Sources1 sources
- Authorities cracked down on more than 9,000 illegal gambling sites, khmertimeskh.com
