Cambodia Launches Sweeping Casino Inspections Revealing Fraud Ties Across Dozens of Sites

Cambodian authorities completed a full inspection of all 195 licensed casinos and identified 72 of them as participants in online fraud operations, a finding that emerged from a coordinated one-year campaign against scam centers running between June 2025 and June 2026. The effort produced raids on 737 separate centers, inspections at 28,500 locations, license revocations or suspensions for dozens of operators, the deportation of more than 21,100 foreign nationals, and the filing of hundreds of court cases. Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith presented the compiled results to the Cabinet on 24 July 2026, and Prime Minister Hun Manet characterized the one-year report into online scam crackdown as a significant advance toward restoring the country’s international standing.

Scope of the Nationwide Operation

Inspectors moved methodically through every licensed casino property while simultaneously targeting hundreds of additional sites suspected of hosting online fraud schemes, and the numbers illustrate the breadth of the exercise. Teams examined physical premises, reviewed operational records, and cross-checked digital activity that linked certain casinos to scam networks operating across borders. Because the campaign stretched across twelve months, authorities could track changes in behavior, close loopholes that appeared during the period, and maintain pressure on operators who attempted to shift activities to new locations.

Key Findings from the Casino Reviews

Of the 195 licensed casinos examined, 72 showed direct connections to online fraud, a proportion that prompted immediate regulatory responses including license actions against multiple properties. The inspections also uncovered patterns in which certain facilities served as fronts for broader criminal enterprises, allowing investigators to map relationships between physical venues and remote scam operations. Data collected during the reviews fed directly into ongoing prosecutions, giving prosecutors detailed evidence that supported the hundreds of court cases filed by the end of the campaign.

Enforcement Actions and Outcomes

Raids on 737 centers disrupted active operations while inspections at 28,500 locations provided the intelligence needed to prioritize further enforcement, and the combined approach produced measurable results in the form of deportations and license sanctions. More than 21,100 foreign nationals left the country under deportation orders tied to the crackdown, removing individuals who had filled key roles in the identified fraud networks. Dozens of casinos faced either full revocation or temporary suspension of their operating licenses, actions that reduced the number of venues available for illicit activity and signaled stricter oversight going forward.

Role of Senior Leadership in Reporting Results

Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith oversaw the compilation of findings from across multiple agencies and delivered the final report to the Cabinet meeting held on 24 July 2026, ensuring that ministers received a consolidated view of progress and remaining challenges. Prime Minister Hun Manet reviewed the document and noted its contribution to efforts aimed at improving Cambodia’s reputation with international partners and investors. The presentation marked the formal close of the initial twelve-month phase while establishing benchmarks for continued monitoring of the casino sector.

Legal Proceedings and Long-Term Implications

Hundreds of court cases advanced through the judicial system as a direct result of evidence gathered during the inspections and raids, creating a substantial docket that will require sustained attention from prosecutors and judges in the months ahead. Authorities expect these proceedings to yield additional convictions and asset seizures that further weaken the infrastructure supporting online fraud. Observers note that the scale of the operation has already altered operational practices at remaining licensed casinos, which now operate under heightened scrutiny and more frequent compliance checks.

Conclusion

The one-year crackdown produced concrete outcomes measured in raids conducted, locations inspected, licenses addressed, deportations executed, and cases initiated, and the July 2026 report submitted by Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith supplied the government with a clear record of those achievements. Prime Minister Hun Manet’s assessment positioned the results as an important step in rebuilding external confidence in Cambodia’s regulatory environment. Future phases of enforcement will build on the data and procedures refined during this period, maintaining focus on preventing the reemergence of scam centers within the casino sector.