Cambodia's Commercial Gambling Management Commission (CGMC) is moving forward with plans to establish a formal suitability screening process for casino license renewals.
On September 4, during a meeting led by Secretary General Yeth Vinel, the CGMC reviewed a draft for a new evaluation framework. This proposed framework, aimed at maintaining "integrity and quality," will set minimum criteria that operators must fulfill to retain or secure a gaming license, marking an increase in oversight within the industry. Specific details regarding the scoring criteria and when the new rules will be implemented have yet to be announced.
This regulatory tightening aligns with a broader government initiative targeting scams and illegal financial practices associated with casinos. According to Khmer Times, the Cambodian government plans to prohibit all online gambling at casinos starting October 2026. This decision seeks to dismantle connections between casinos and cyber-fraud operations while addressing untraceable money flows. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sar Sokha has warned that violations of the suspension, once enacted, could lead to the revocation of licenses and additional legal penalties.
In an extensive crackdown on scams, Cambodia’s state news agency, AKP, reported that 195 licensed casinos were inspected, resulting in 20 license revocations and the suspension of 29 others, with another 23 licenses naturally expiring.
Touch Sokhak, deputy spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior, stated that this initiative is crucial to prevent Cambodia from becoming “a safe haven or money-laundering base for technology-related criminals.”
Nonetheless, the ongoing enforcement has adversely affected Cambodia's economy; in May, the government revised its GDP growth forecast for 2026 as sectors like construction, real estate, and consumer spending felt the immediate repercussions of the crackdown.
However, as the CGMC works to finalize the integrity and quality framework, no timeline has been provided, leaving casino operators uncertain about the forthcoming requirements. This uncertainty precedes Phnom Penh's upcoming anti-scam conference scheduled for September 23-24, which is a part of the broader campaign against online scam networks.
Initially announced with the title "Together Towards Disrupting the Chain and Ending Online Scams" by AKP in August, the conference is now referenced on its website as "Acting Together towards Breaking the Chain and Eradication of Online Scams." Prime Minister Hun Manet has characterized this regulatory drive as a necessity to "clean our house" and enhance Cambodia's standing on the global stage.
