Cambodian authorities detained 244 suspects in a raid on online scam operations at the Golden Galaxy Casino in Bavet city, Svay Rieng province, on the morning of April 7, 2026, according to a statement issued on April 8 by the Commercial Gambling Management Commission of Cambodia1. The gambling regulator then revoked the casino license of K.B.I. (Cambodia) Plc., the operator of the Golden Galaxy Casino1.
The operation was carried out jointly by the National Police, local unified command forces and officials from the Commercial Gambling Management Commission of Cambodia, under the supervision of the Svay Rieng provincial prosecutor1. The casino is located along National Road 1 in Bavet1.
Among those detained were 182 Vietnamese nationals, 49 Chinese, nine South Koreans and four Cambodians1. Authorities also seized 505 mobile phones, 150 desktop computers, one laptop, one monitor and four vehicles1.
| Item | Number |
|---|---|
| Suspects detained | 244 |
| Vietnamese nationals | 182 |
| Chinese nationals | 49 |
| South Korean nationals | 9 |
| Cambodian nationals | 4 |
| Mobile phones seized | 505 |
| Desktop computers seized | 150 |
| Laptops seized | 1 |
| Monitors seized | 1 |
| Vehicles seized | 4 |
Officials said the suspects were involved in technology-based fraud schemes, with Cambodia allegedly used as an operational base to target victims abroad1. Legal proceedings are underway under Cambodia's newly enacted law on combating online scams, promulgated on April 6, 20261. The regulator cited the operator's involvement in cyber fraud activities and violations of regulations under the Law on Commercial Gambling Management when revoking the license1.
"Cambodian authorities have detained 244 suspects in a crackdown on online scam operations at a casino complex in Bavet city, Svay Rieng province"
The crackdown forms part of a broader nationwide campaign to eradicate online scam operations, and authorities pledged to continue strict enforcement under Royal Government directive No. 1, issued in July 2025, with coordinated inspections and raids targeting any casino or business suspected of links to illicit activities, particularly cyber-enabled fraud1.
What it means for players
The Golden Galaxy Casino is no longer a licensed operator, after the regulator revoked the license of K.B.I. (Cambodia) Plc.1. Anyone who gambles in Cambodia, whether resident or visiting, is affected in practical terms by what the raid shows: the country's licensed casino sector is being inspected and raided under directive No. 1, and premises suspected of links to cyber fraud can be shut and their operators stripped of their licenses1. The 244 people detained were described as suspects in technology-based fraud schemes targeting victims abroad, not as gamblers1. The seizure list, dominated by 505 mobile phones and 150 desktop computers, points to office-style operations inside the complex rather than play on a casino floor1.
For anyone weighing where to play, the case is a reminder that a casino's licensing status in Cambodia can change quickly, and that licensed and unlicensed operations carry different risks. Bavet sits on the Vietnam border and its casino floor has long drawn cross-border traffic; the background to the border casinos is set out in Bavet casinos and other casinos on the Vietnam border. Reports of fake sites, rigged games and scam compounds in the region are collected in gambling scams and safety in Asia, with Cambodia-specific material in fake casino sites and gambling scams in Cambodia. Job seekers should note that recruitment into casino and online gambling work in Cambodia is a recurring feature of these cases; see casino and online gambling job offers in Cambodia.
What happens next
Legal proceedings against the 244 detainees are underway under the online scam law promulgated on April 6, 20261. Authorities said enforcement under directive No. 1 will continue, with coordinated inspections and raids on any casino or business suspected of links to illicit activity1. No court dates, charges or further raid targets have been reported1.
Sources1 sources
- Agence Kampuchea Presse - AKP, akp.gov.kh
