Cambodian authorities checked 9,622 locations suspected of involvement in illegal gambling over 51 days and found 116 of them breaking the law, the National Committee for Counter Trafficking (NCCT) said in an October 7 press statement. The operation ran from August 18 to October 4, and 253 individuals were sent to the courts for further action1.
The NCCT said police and relevant authorities launched operations to check the 9,622 locations, and that 116 were found to have violated the law by engaging in illegal gambling activities1. The statement did not say how many of the 9,622 locations were cleared, nor did it give a breakdown of the 116 sites by province, type of gambling or operator1.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Period covered | August 18 to October 4 (51 days) |
| Locations checked | 9,622 |
| Locations found in violation | 116 |
| Individuals sent to court | 253 |
Alongside the checks, the NCCT said police and relevant authorities educated people in various villages and communes across the country about the law on the suppression of illegal gambling and the impacts of illegal gambling on their communities1.
"The statement said that the authorities will continue to investigate and keep an eye on all suspected locations to ensure that they do not resume their illegal gambling businesses."
The report did not name the courts involved, describe the charges the 253 individuals face, or state whether any of them had been convicted or released1. It also did not identify which gambling activities the 116 locations were running, or whether any were online operations rather than physical venues1.
What it means for players
Cambodia's legal gambling market is built around licensed casinos, and the NCCT figures describe enforcement against locations operating outside that framework rather than a change to the rules for licensed venues. For anyone in Cambodia, the practical point is that unlicensed venues and operators are the target of active checks, and that people found at such locations can end up in the court system: 253 individuals were sent to court in this operation alone1.
The statement gives no detail on how the 253 were identified, whether they were operators, staff or players, or what happened to them afterwards1. That has not been reported. Players weighing where to gamble in Cambodia can read our guides to Cambodia's gambling law and to online casinos in Cambodia, and for the risks around unlicensed operators, fake casino sites and gambling scams in Cambodia.
What happens next
The NCCT said authorities will continue to investigate and keep an eye on all suspected locations to ensure that they do not resume their illegal gambling businesses1. No further dates, targets or deadlines were given in the statement1.
