Cambodia Plans to Reduce its Casino Sector

Prime Minister Hun Manet said the approval regime for casinos needed resetting

Cambodia is preparing to shrink its casino sector after Prime Minister Hun Manet ordered a review of licensing rules and said the country’s more than 100 legal gambling venues were no longer justified. 

According to Asia Gaming Brief, the government is now moving towards tighter renewal standards, deeper inspections and a gradual reduction in the number of properties allowed to operate.

Licences under Sharper Scrutiny

Hun Manet said some casinos approved in earlier years were so small they operated from a single shophouse, a point he used to argue that the approval regime needs resetting. 

He also said the industry contributes only a limited share of the wider economy and tourism base. 

Speaking at a hospital opening in Phnom Penh, he said: “All online gambling operations will be suspended starting early October, as we continue our strict crackdown on online scams to ensure they do not return.” He also described the current casino count as “excessive”.

The policy shift builds on work already under way at the Commercial Gambling Management Commission of Cambodia. 

The regulator’s secretariat reviewed a proposed casino integrity and quality assessment framework on September 4, with the aim of setting minimum standards for renewals.

The Larger Landscape

Last month, Cambodia’s Justice Ministry officials reviewed a draft law designed to reinforce penalties and align enforcement with the country’s commercial gambling statute. 

Amnesty International said in April that casino approvals issued late last year and early this year were linked to sites where trafficking, forced labor and torture had been documented. 

Authorities have reviewed 195 licensed casinos over the past year and at least 72 later stopped operating after licences were revoked or renewal conditions were not met. 

Cambodia stopped issuing licences in 2019.

Hun Manet has also ruled out casino development in Siem Reap, despite investor interest in the heritage tourism hub.