AKP Phnom Penh, October 7, 2026 --

The Royal Government of Cambodia will maintain a strict zero-tolerance policy against all forms of illicit online gambling and cyber scam operations, launching new multi-agency inspections on physical casinos nationwide starting this month, officials said.

The Secretariat of the Commission for Combating Online Scams (CCOS) held a joint meeting Monday afternoon with the Commercial Gambling Management Commission of Cambodia (CGMC) to roll out coordinated crackdown strategies across 16 provinces hosting licensed casinos.

The meeting gathered senior officials and representatives from the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training, the General Commissariat of National Police, the General Department of Immigration, provincial administration unified command units, and provincial prosecution offices.

Officials outlined two primary objectives: enforcing an explicit ban on any online gambling activities within casino premises, and deploying joint inter-agency task forces to inspect casinos beginning in October 2026 to prevent illegal online betting activity.

Senior Minister H.E. Santibindit Chhay Sinarith, Standing Vice Chairman and Head of the secretariat of the CCOS, commended law enforcement agencies and local authorities for their anti-cyber scam efforts. He noted that Cambodia’s efforts received international recognition during a high-level international conference on combating online scams on Sept. 23-24 in Phnom Penh, where nearly 30 countries and international organisations jointly adopted the 11-point "Phnom Penh Declaration" to combat transnational cybercrime.

However, H.E. Chhay Sinarith emphasised that enforcement actions will intensify rather than wane.

"The Royal Government will not stop here and will continue to take tough measures against all locations linked to online scams," the Senior Minister said. "Unregulated online gambling is itself a form of tech scamming, and strict legal action will be enforced under the Law on Anti-Inline Scams, the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financing of Terrorism Law, and other applicable legal instruments."

H.E. Yeth Vinel, Secretary-General of the CGMC, representing Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance H.E. Academician Aun Pornmoniroth, announced that nationwide joint inspections will ensure physical casinos operate strictly within their license conditions.

"If any casino is found engaging in unauthorised online gambling, the CGMC will apply statutory administrative sanctions and extend full cooperation to law enforcement to pursue maximum criminal charges under current laws," he stated.

Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith added that the CCOS Secretariat remains open to bilateral and international cooperation to eradicate cybercrime syndicates and urged all relevant administrative and police authorities to support the upcoming joint inspections to ensure maximum operational efficiency.

By K. Rithy Reak