The Commercial Gambling Management Commission of Cambodia (CGMC) is set to implement a formal suitability screening process as part of its plans for casino licence renewals. At a meeting led by Secretary General Yeth Vinel on September 4, the CGMC reviewed a draft of this new evaluation framework, which aims to enforce minimum conditions that casino operators must meet to maintain or acquire a licence. Details regarding the scoring criteria and an official start date for implementing these guidelines have yet to be released.
This regulatory change coincides with an intensified government campaign targeting scams and illicit financial activities connected to casinos. As Khmer Times reports, the Cambodian government has made a significant announcement to suspend all online gambling at its casinos starting October 2026. The objective of this initiative is to eliminate associations between casinos and cyber-fraud, alongside untraceable monetary transactions. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sar Sokha warned that any casino violating the suspension after it begins would face licence revocation and additional legal penalties.
In line with the crackdown, Cambodia's state news agency, AKP, revealed that authorities have conducted inspections at 195 licensed casinos across the country. This initiative has resulted in 20 licences being revoked, while 29 others have been suspended, and an additional 23 have lapsed naturally. Touch Sokhak, the deputy spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior, stated that this operation aims to prevent Cambodia from turning into a safe haven for technology-related criminals involved in money laundering.
The enforcement actions have impacted the broader Cambodian economy, leading the government to reduce its GDP growth forecast for 2026, as construction, real estate, and consumer spending feel the immediate effects of the crackdown.
The CGMC has not yet provided a timeline for finalizing the integrity and quality framework, leaving casino operators in uncertainty regarding new requirements. This ambiguity arises as Phnom Penh is preparing for a significant anti-scam conference scheduled for September 23-24, which is part of the broader initiative against online scam networks. Originally titled "Together Towards Disrupting the Chain and Ending Online Scams" in August, the conference has been updated to "Acting Together towards Breaking the Chain and Eradication of Online Scams" on its official website. Prime Minister Hun Manet has characterized the ongoing crackdown as an effort to "clean our house" and improve Cambodia's international reputation.
