Cambodia's National Police leadership issued operational guidance on 8 August 2026 directing the General Department Against Commercial Gambling Crimes to intensify action against unlawful sissang gambling activities and technology-enabled fraud, meaning online scams1. The order was issued during a departmental meeting led by senior police leadership and covers both field operations and the internal conduct of officers1.
The directive sets out a list of provisions for the department and its officers.
- Crackdowns on illegal sissang gambling locations are to be targeted, with what the guidance calls special focus on Phnom Penh geography1.
- Police officers are prohibited from any involvement in illegal gambling or unlicensed casino activities, and must immediately withdraw from and report any suspected links1.
- Discipline is to be enforced, with minor breaches handled administratively while serious violations face legal action1.
On social media, the guidance instructs officers to summon and advise individuals who disseminate illegal gambling promotions, and to apply procedural steps that can include detention if promotional activity continues after a warning1. Casinos face closer supervision and reporting of incidents, with clear and timely incident reports to headquarters1. The directive also prioritizes anti-money-laundering work, including clear reporting of financial-investigation findings to the designated AML/CTF working group, and calls for enhanced training courses to improve officers' operational skills against gambling and online-fraud crimes1.
"Prohibit any involvement by police officers in illegal gambling or unlicensed casino activities and require immediate withdrawal and reporting of any suspected links."
The guidance applies to the General Department Against Commercial Gambling Crimes and its officers, with operational emphasis on sites and networks linked to illegal gambling and online scams, including unlicensed casinos and social-media promotion channels in Phnom Penh1. It covers operational planning, role assignment for department leadership and field staff, and internal discipline measures for police personnel1. The announcement was published by the National Police of Cambodia1.
What it means for players
For anyone gambling in Cambodia, the practical effect of the directive is a stated increase in police attention to illegal gambling venues and to online gambling promotion, particularly in Phnom Penh1. People who post or share promotions for illegal gambling on social media are named in the guidance as a target: officers are told to summon and advise them, and to apply procedural steps that can include detention if the promotion continues after a warning1. That applies to promoters, not to ordinary players, and the guidance does not describe penalties for players themselves1.
Licensed casinos and digital platforms are told to expect closer scrutiny of incident reporting and financial flows tied to gambling activity, and to ensure internal compliance with AML reporting expectations1. The guidance does not name specific venues, operators or individuals, and no enforcement actions, arrests or case numbers have been reported1. Cambodia's rules on who may gamble and where are unchanged by this directive; the guidance concerns enforcement against illegal operations and police conduct1. For background on what is legal and what is not, see Can I Gamble in Cambodia? and Fake Casino Sites and Gambling Scams in Cambodia. General reporting routes and warning signs are covered in Gambling Scams and Safety in Asia.
What happens next
The guidance orders the department to prepare operational plans and define roles for leaders and officers, and to enhance timely implementation and response to tasks assigned by department leadership1. It also calls for regular knowledge and experience sharing among officers and enhanced training courses1. No dates, deadlines or targets for the crackdowns have been reported1.
