The Cambodian government will further tighten online gaming operations at casinos. On September 24, the Cambodian Ministry of Interior announced that Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sar Sokha confirmed that, starting October 1, 2026, Cambodian casinos will suspend online casino and online betting operations.
Sar Sokha said the suspension is part of a new government mechanism to crack down on online scams and strengthen gaming regulation. Even where some online gaming operations are not directly involved in scams, the government will suspend them in order to re-examine the relevant business models and regulatory approaches.
The Ministry of Interior noted that an estimated 200,000 foreign nationals remain in Cambodia, most of whom work in online gaming and betting and are not involved in online scams. This means the measures mainly target online gaming operations and their regulatory risks and do not amount to a determination that all employees are involved in telecom fraud.
The government's move is aimed at limiting the room for online gaming to be exploited by scam groups and at tightening oversight of casinos and related business activities. Casinos that keep running online gaming operations after the policy takes effect will face strict law enforcement measures under Cambodian law.
According to the Secretariat of Cambodia's Anti-Online Scam Committee, as of September, the operating licenses of 18 casinos linked to online scams had been revoked and those of another 9 casinos had been suspended.
With the new measures officially taking effect on October 1, online gaming operations at casinos in Cambodia will face a further tightening. How the government redraws the regulatory perimeter for online gaming going forward, and how the affected workers and businesses adjust, will be a focus of attention in the period ahead.
