Cambodia's Commercial Gambling Management Commission (CGMC) revoked at least eight casino licenses between April and early May 2026 for hosting scam operations and violating the country's gambling laws, according to CamboJA News1. More than 1,100 mostly foreign nationals were detained in raids over the last few weeks linked to the revocations, while authorities seized thousands of phones and hundreds of computers and monitors they said were used in online fraud1.
The eight casinos that lost licenses sit in Preah Sihanouk, Battambang, Banteay Meanchey and Svay Rieng provinces and include Jin Yu Man Tang Casino, Xin Hao Peak Casino, Eagle King Casino, Orchid Hotel & Rich Casino, Zhong Huawei Golden Sand International Entertainment and Golden Galaxy Casino1. Authorities on April 6 also revoked the licenses of Gang Dao Casino in Sihanoukville and Shanghai Resort Casino in Bavet1.
No criminal charges against any casino owners have been announced1. Rus Phirun, former secretary-general of the CGMC, said he could not comment on the revocations or whether charges had been brought, saying he was "not in charge of this work anymore"1. CamboJA News was unable to obtain contact information for Yun Vina, who now holds the position, and calls to the CGMC hotline went unanswered1.
The crackdown has left untouched several other casinos tied to alleged scam and human trafficking networks, including at least two operated by a firm owned by Cambodian senator Kok An, whom a Senate spokesperson said retained "immunity" after the United States sanctioned him last month over alleged links to the operations1. Kok An has denied involvement in scam activities1.
The government said it shut down 91 casinos and more than 250 online scam locations between July 2025 and mid-April this year, while deporting more than 13,000 foreigners allegedly involved in the industry, though it did not clarify how many may have been trafficked or coerced1. Cambodia once had 160 operating casinos in 2025, according to the CGMC, most concentrated in Sihanoukville, Bavet and Poipet1.
| Detail | Figure |
|---|---|
| Casino licenses revoked, April to early May | At least 8 |
| Foreign nationals detained in linked raids | More than 1,100 |
| Casinos shut, July 2025 to mid-April 2026 | 91 |
| Online scam locations shut, same period | More than 250 |
| Foreigners deported | More than 13,000 |
| Operating casinos in Cambodia, 2025 | 160 |
An Amnesty International investigation published in April alleged that at least 12 licensed casino complexes in Cambodia were directly linked to scam compounds where trafficking victims said they were subjected to forced labor, torture, enslavement and other abuses1. The rights group said the CGMC approved or renewed casino plans for several properties in December and January despite evidence the compounds operated on casino grounds1. None of the casinos named in the report appear to have had their licenses revoked, owners arrested or operations shut down1.
Eagle King Casino, one of the casinos stripped of its license earlier this month for hosting scam operations, is operated by TS Chamnong Investment Co. Ltd1. The company is chaired by the sister-in-law of former Defense Minister Tea Banh, San Chamnong, according to Ministry of Commerce corporate records and local media reports, and its director is Tea Samnamg, reportedly his niece1. Calls to a phone number listed for Chamnong went unanswered, while Samnamg's listed number was disconnected1.
What it means for players
The revocations remove named properties from Cambodia's licensed casino list, but the reporting does not say what happens to money or accounts held at those venues, and no owner has been charged1. For anyone gambling in Cambodia, the practical picture is a shrinking set of licensed venues alongside an enforcement campaign that has so far targeted workers rather than operators, according to observers cited in the coverage1. The CGMC said it would continue cooperating with relevant authorities to inspect and search casino premises1. Details on how players can verify whether a specific casino still holds a license have not been reported1.
What happens next
Prime Minister Hun Manet previously pledged to eliminate online scam operations in the country by the end of April, though officials later dismissed the deadline as a "rumor" and said the crackdown would continue indefinitely1. Chhoeng Chantha, a technical adviser to the regulator, said the agency was organizing a team to handle media inquiries but did not provide a timeframe1. Touch Sokhak, spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior, did not immediately respond to a request for comment1.
For background on how Cambodia's casino sector and scam compounds intersect, see Can I Gamble in Cambodia? and Fake Casino Sites and Gambling Scams in Cambodia. Regional context on enforcement against offshore gambling hubs is covered in Crackdowns on Offshore Online Gambling Hubs in Asia, and reporting routes are set out in Gambling Scams and Safety in Asia.
