Cambodia Tightens Legal Framework to Curb Illegal Gambling
Cambodia's regulator is due to undergo a nationwide casino inspection
Cambodia’s Justice Ministry is tightening the legal framework around illegal gambling as officials review a draft law designed to reinforce penalties and align enforcement with the country’s commercial gambling statute.
According to The Khmer Times, the meeting in Phnom Penh on Aug. 10 brought together officials from the Justice Ministry, Interior Ministry, police and the Commercial Gambling Management Commission, or CGMC.
Tighter Rules, Wider Scrutiny
The move comes as Cambodia faces sustained pressure over casinos and online scam operations.
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.
The draft is intended to make penalties more consistent with existing law and improve coordination among agencies.
Last month, Cambodia’s gambling regulator is moving towards nationwide casino inspections as it sharpens scrutiny of the commercial gaming sector.
In an official Facebook update on July 20, the Commercial Gambling Management Commission of Cambodia said senior officials had reviewed preparations for the assessments alongside priorities for the second half of 2026 and the outline of its 2027-2030 strategic plan.
