Prime Minister Hun Manet has banned the establishment of new casinos in Kep and Kampot provinces, except for Bokor Mountain where they currently operate, according to a decision reported on July 23, 20241.
The decision states the ban is intended to "diversify investment in hotel and hospitality, tourism, manufacturing, industry, agriculture, trade and special economic zones [SEZs]." The letter added that it also aims to strengthen and promote cultural and religious preservation, ensure security and improve order in tourist destinations1.
"Prime Minister Hun Manet has banned the establishment of new casinos in Kep and Kampot provinces, except for Bokor Mountain where they currently operate."
Figures released by the Commercial Gambling Management Commission of Cambodia (CGMC) put the national total at 184 licensed gambling establishments. Most are in coastal areas, 100 of them, including those on Bokor Mountain in Kampot. There are 48 in the provinces bordering Thailand and 35 along the border with Vietnam, while Phnom Penh has one1.
| Location | Licensed gambling establishments |
|---|---|
| Coastal areas, including Bokor Mountain | 100 |
| Provinces bordering Thailand | 48 |
| Border with Vietnam | 35 |
| Phnom Penh | 1 |
| Nationwide total | 184 |
Article 19 of the Law on Management of Commercial Gaming, promulgated in 2020, prohibits gambling establishments in certain geographical locations for the sake of cultural and religious conservation or other necessities. Casinos built in certain areas before the law was enacted are exceptions, as stated in Article 20. The same law prohibits all Cambodians from gambling inside casinos, although all forms of gambling are illegal outside of them1. In 2023, state revenue from commercial games of chance exceeded $20 million1.
Yong Kim Eng, president of the People Center for Development and Peace, said casinos do not bring much benefit to the nation and can cause some people to fall into debt, even though the law prohibits locals from taking part. In his view, the government should maintain only existing establishments, such as in Sihanoukville, Bavet town in Svay Rieng province and Poipet town in Banteay Meanchey1.
Chhort Bunthang, a Cultural Relations, Education and Tourism research officer at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said the decision is likely because the country already has enough, noting most are located along the borders. He said casino revenue contributes to the national budget, but that gambling is against the law and unconventional in Cambodian culture1.
What it means for players
The ban applies to new casinos in Kep and Kampot, so existing venues, including those on Bokor Mountain, are unaffected by the decision as reported1. Cambodia's casinos remain concentrated on the coast and along the Thai and Vietnamese borders, with a single establishment in Phnom Penh1.
Cambodian citizens are barred by law from gambling inside casinos, and all forms of gambling outside them are illegal1. Foreign visitors are the customers the licensed industry is built around; the gambling law framework described in the 2020 legislation is what sets who may enter and where venues may sit. For practical detail on the main border clusters, see Poipet casinos and Bavet casinos, and for entry rules see Can I gamble in Cambodia?.
What happens next
No further steps, timelines or implementing instructions were reported in the decision as covered1.
