Cambodia's newly enacted law on combating online scams was promulgated on April 6, 2026, according to Agence Kampuchea Presse1. The next morning, on April 7, authorities detained 244 suspects in a crackdown on online scam operations at a casino complex in Bavet city, Svay Rieng province1.
The operation took place at the Golden Galaxy Casino, located along National Road 1 in Bavet, and 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. Among those detained were 182 Vietnamese nationals, 49 Chinese, nine South Koreans and four Cambodians1. Authorities seized 505 mobile phones, 150 desktop computers, one laptop, one monitor and four vehicles1.
Officials said the suspects were involved in technology-based fraud schemes, with Cambodia allegedly used as an operational base to target victims abroad1. Following the raid, the gambling regulator revoked the casino license of K.B.I. (Cambodia) Plc., the operator of Golden Galaxy Casino, citing its involvement in cyber fraud activities and violations of regulations under the Law on Commercial Gambling Management1.
The crackdown forms part of a broader nationwide campaign to eradicate online scam operations, with authorities pledging continued enforcement under Royal Government directive No. 1, issued in July 20251.
"Cambodia's newly enacted law on combating online scams, promulgated on April 6, 2026"
Later reporting gives differing accounts of the campaign's scale.
| Report | Figures |
|---|---|
| One-year progress report by Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith, chairman of the Commission for Combating Technology-enabled Scams, to a July 24 Cabinet meeting2 | 2,773 suspects referred to court in connection with 268 online scam cases; all 195 licensed casinos examined; 19 casino licenses revoked and 30 others suspended; 21,102 foreign nationals deported from 38 countries |
| A separate government press release3 | 737 online scam centers raided between June 2025 and June 2026; about 28,500 locations inspected; illegal operations uncovered at 665 sites; 72 of the 195 licensed casinos found involved in online fraud |
| A Cambodia Tribune report4 | 751 suspected scam locations operated against and 605 of them shut down between July 2025 and July 31, 2026; licenses of 20 casinos revoked and 29 others suspended; 23 casinos had licenses expire and ceased operations |
| The Phnom Penh Post, citing the Commission for Combating Technology-enabled Scams5 | 86 scam compounds dismantled from July 2024 to August 2026; 27 casinos shuttered, linked to major online fraud networks; about $300 million seized from bank accounts linked to the campaign |
The law's penalties are also described differently across reports.
| Report | Penalties and provisions described |
|---|---|
| The Phnom Penh Post2 | The Law on Combating Technology-Based Fraud came into force on April 7, 2026; those convicted of leading or organizing online scam networks may face life imprisonment, fines of up to 1 billion riel ($250,000) and confiscation of assets |
| The Cambodia Tribune4 | The Law on Combating Technology-enabled Scams was promulgated in April 2026 with penalties including life imprisonment and fines of up to 1 billion Riel (about US$250,000); it recognizes people forced or trafficked into working at scam centers as victims rather than criminals |
| The Phnom Penh Post5 | The law targets ringleaders, accomplices, property owners and other parties who knowingly facilitate such activity |
What it means for players
Cambodia's licensed casino sector is the focus of the enforcement described. Inspections covered all 195 licensed casinos, and dozens had licenses revoked, suspended or allowed to expire4. For anyone in Cambodia, the practical effect is that a casino's license status can change quickly, and an operator named in enforcement action may stop trading or lose its license1.
The law's stated scope covers technology-driven fraud, not casino gambling itself, but the government has linked Cambodia's early exposure to scams to the growth of online gambling and casino-related businesses6. Reports describe scam schemes including cryptocurrency investment fraud, romance scams and illegal online lending4. Anyone encountering gambling-related offers online in Cambodia, including through messaging apps, is dealing with an environment where authorities say criminal networks have used commercial properties and regulatory gaps6.
The law also reaches people who knowingly facilitate such operations, including property owners5. That is a stated legal position, not a statement about any individual case.
What happens next
Cambodia hosted the International Conference on Combating Online Scams (ICCOS-2026) in Phnom Penh on September 23 and 24, 2026, with representatives from the FBI, China, INTERPOL and other countries and organizations attending5.
Prime Minister Hun Manet said Cambodia is accelerating specialized legislation including a forthcoming cybersecurity law, cybercrime law and frameworks governing virtual assets6. He also said authorities have completely dismantled all large-scale scam compounds in the Kingdom, while syndicates attempt to fragment into smaller operations6. The Phnom Penh Post reported that a Phnom Penh Declaration on scam assets and trafficking victims is not binding5.
For background on the sector, see Can I Gamble in Cambodia? and Can I Play at Online Casinos in Cambodia?. For reporting channels and warning signs, see Fake Casino Sites and Gambling Scams in Cambodia and Gambling Scams and Safety in Asia.
Sources6 sources
- Agence Kampuchea Presse - AKP, akp.gov.kh
- Scam crackdown marks first year; almost 3K prosecutions as efforts ongoing - Phnom Penh Post, phnompenhpost.com
- Cambodia shuts 737 scam centres in nationwide crackdown, khmertimeskh.com
- Cambodia's Crackdown on Online Scam Networks Yields Significant Results - Cambodia Tribune, cambodiatribune.com
- Cambodia opens international scam conference with US, China, UK participation - Phnom Penh Post, phnompenhpost.com
- Cambodia will not be a safe haven for online scams, says PM (VIDEO), khmertimeskh.com
