Cambodian authorities began crackdown operations against illegal gambling on December 11, 2024, arresting those involved and moving to shut down the means used to promote it, according to the Ministry of Interior. The operations are being carried out by authorities and competent forces at both the national and sub-national levels1.
The action follows the expiry on December 10 of a seven-day ultimatum set by Sar Sokha, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, for groups promoting illegal gambling to cease their activities1. The ministry said it had observed social media and media outlets producing images, videos and content of illegal gambling and promoting the activity to attract citizens to play in person or online. It said some popular individuals and social content producers took part in promoting and sharing this material, which it said caused public confusion and affected peace, public order and social safety1.
The ministry issued six recommendations, including orders to stop producing gambling-related images, videos and content, to stop creating websites, accounts or social media pages containing such material, and to stop disseminating or sharing it1. It also directed the Unified Administrative Command of the capital, province, city, district and khan to monitor and prohibit continued sharing within their jurisdictions, and told sub-national administrations to promote public education on the effects of illegal gambling under the Royal Government's "Safe Villages, Communes, and Sangkats" policy1.
"Starting today, December 11, authorities and competent forces at both the national and sub-national levels will conduct crackdown operations by arresting those involved and requesting that the means of promotion be shut down."
The ministry said it will take legal action against anyone who continues to engage in the activities it listed1. The report did not state how many arrests had been made, which locations were targeted, or what penalties those arrested could face. It also did not specify which forms of gambling are considered illegal under the crackdown, beyond distinguishing between gambling played in person and online1.
| Directive | Requirement |
|---|---|
| 1 | Stop all production of images, videos and content related to illegal gambling, in person or online |
| 2 | Stop creating websites, accounts or social media pages containing such content |
| 3 | Stop all dissemination or sharing of such content |
| 4 | Capital, provincial, city, district and khan commands to monitor and prohibit continued sharing |
| 5 | Sub-national administrations to educate citizens on the effects of illegal gambling |
| 6 | Ministry of Interior to take legal action against those who continue |
What it means for players
The crackdown targets the promotion of illegal gambling rather than announcing new rules on which gambling is legal. Cambodia's gambling law already sets out what players can and cannot do, and this operation concerns enforcement against people who produce, post or share gambling content. For locals, expats and visitors, the practical effect is that public advertising and social media promotion of illegal gambling are the immediate focus, and the ministry has said it will pursue legal action against those who keep promoting1. Anyone assessing what is legal in the country can check Can I Gamble in Cambodia? and Can I Bet on Sports in Cambodia?. The report does not say whether licensed operators are affected, and no list of targeted sites or accounts has been published1.
What happens next
The ministry said crackdown operations are underway from December 11 and that legal action will follow against anyone who continues the prohibited activity1. No end date, arrest figures or further deadlines have been reported.
Sources1 sources
- Anti-gambling crackdown begins today, khmertimeskh.com
