Cambodia's Royal Government issued a nine-point order on a campaign to crack down on online scams, according to a report published on July 16, 20251. The order assigns eradication duties across provincial administrations, the police, immigration, the armed forces, the courts and the casino regulator, and takes effect from the date it is signed1.
The order states that online fraud is a significant source of instability and hazards both locally and regionally, and that international criminal organizations have infiltrated these schemes1. Under point one, governors of provinces and cities, heads of provincial and capital administrative unified command and control committees, and provincial and capital police commissioners are responsible for eradicating all online scam activities within their jurisdictions1.
The nine points divide responsibilities as follows1:
| Point | Body | Duty |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Provincial and city governors, unified command heads, police commissioners | Eradicate all online scam activities in their jurisdictions |
| 2 | Ministry of Interior with National Police and General Department of Immigration | Establish procedures for legal expulsion of foreigners who entered or resided illegally or are engaged in illegal activities |
| 3 | National Police, immigration, provincial command, police and military police headquarters in border provinces | Prevent and prohibit illegal land border crossings |
| 4 | National Committee for Maritime Security, National Police, immigration, provincial command, Navy, maritime police | Prevent and prohibit illegal marine border crossings |
| 5 | Ministry of Justice | Instruct courts and prosecution offices to implement laws on suppressing fraud using technology systems |
| 6 | Royal Cambodian Armed Forces commander-in-chief and service commanders | Prepare forces, resources and materials to support operations on directives |
| 7 | Ministries, specialized institutions, National Centre for Information Technology | Collaborate in the fight against online scams |
| 8 | Commercial Gambling Management Commission of Cambodia | Enhance management and supervision of all licensed casino or gaming centers |
| 9 | Provincial and capital administrative committees, police chiefs, relevant units and ministries | Enforce the regulation diligently and responsibly |
Point eight directs the Commercial Gambling Management Commission of Cambodia to enhance the management and supervision of all licensed casino or gaming centers, ensuring full protection from online scams; kidnapping, torture and illegal detention; human trafficking and all forms of sexual exploitation; arms trafficking, illegal arms storage and use; illegal force deployment through private security firms and armed police forces; and illegal trafficking, handling and storage of drugs and narcotics1.
The order states that failure to comply or cooperate may lead to evaluation for appointment, transfer, or removal from office1.
"All ministries, institutions, the National Maritime Security Committee, the Secretariat of the Commission for Combating Online Scams, the Unified Command, provincial administrations, relevant units, and authorities must implement this order with the utmost diligence and efficiency from the date it is signed."
What it means for players
The order places licensed casinos and gaming centers under closer supervision by the Commercial Gambling Management Commission of Cambodia, with the stated aim of protecting them from online scams and from crimes including kidnapping, illegal detention and human trafficking1. For anyone gambling in Cambodia, whether local, expat or visitor, the practical effect depends on how the regulator applies the instruction; the order does not set out specific enforcement measures, penalties for operators or inspection schedules, and none have been reported1.
The order also covers foreigners who entered or resided in Cambodia illegally or are engaged in illegal activities, with the Ministry of Interior, National Police and immigration directed to establish procedures for their legal expulsion1. It does not state how those procedures will treat foreign nationals working at or using gambling venues, and that has not been reported1.
What happens next
The order is effective from the date it is signed, and the report does not give that date1. No deadlines, reporting requirements or review dates are set out in the order, and no implementation timeline has been reported1.
