Phnom Penh city governor Khuong Sreng issued a directive on December 11 calling on municipal authorities to strictly implement a national ban on gambling promotion, according to the Phnom Penh Post1. The instruction states that all gambling promotion, whether online or offline, must be prevented1.
The city directive follows a December 4 order from Minister of Interior Sar Sokha banning such activities, which carried a warning that action would be taken against those who disregarded it1. Interior ministry spokesperson Touch Sokhak said a seven-day grace period had ended and authorities were actively implementing legal measures1.
"Since the directive was issued, we have observed that approximately 80 to 90 percent of the relevant parties have complied."
Sokhak said officials are preparing detailed reports on websites and social media accounts that facilitate gambling and will work with the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications to shut them down1. The interior minister will review those reports and decide next steps1. As of December 11, no legal action had been reported against any individual1.
Illegal gambling promotions had been commonly seen online and offline, including on social media, in mobile text messages and in advertisements placed on tuk-tuks1. Pech Pisey, executive director of Transparency International Cambodia, supported the ban as a positive step but said effective enforcement and monitoring are crucial, adding that public education and strict enforcement are both necessary1.
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| December 4 | Minister of Interior Sar Sokha issues directive banning gambling promotion, with a warning of action against those who ignore it1 |
| December 4 to 11 | Seven-day grace period; officials report roughly 80 to 90 percent compliance1 |
| December 11 | Phnom Penh administration issues directive to municipal authorities to strictly implement the ban1 |
What it means for players
The measures target promotion, not the act of gambling itself, as described in the directive reported on December 111. For people in Cambodia, that distinction matters: the reported focus is on advertising channels such as social media posts, text messages and tuk-tuk signage rather than on players1. Cambodia's gambling law sets out what residents and visitors may and may not do, and the country's casino sector operates under a separate licensing framework. Anyone assessing online gambling legality in the region can compare Cambodia with the other jurisdictions covered here. The directive sits within a wider pattern of crackdowns on offshore online gambling hubs in Asia.
What happens next
Officials are compiling reports on websites and social media accounts that facilitate gambling, for referral to the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications for shutdown1. The interior minister will review those reports and decide on further steps1. No timeline for that review has been reported, and no individual had been subject to legal action as of December 111.
Sources1 sources
- No more bets: Grace period ends for gambling sites - Phnom Penh Post, phnompenhpost.com
