Cambodia's Casino Inspections Uncover Links to Online Fraud Operations

Cambodian officials completed a full review of all 195 licensed casinos and identified 72 facilities connected to online fraud activities as part of a coordinated one-year effort targeting scam centers that ran from June 2025 through June 2026, and the findings reached the Cabinet during its meeting on 24 July 2026. The inspection process formed one segment of a larger campaign that also examined hundreds of other sites suspected of facilitating fraudulent schemes.

Scope of the Inspection Campaign

Authorities conducted raids on 737 separate centers while carrying out checks at 28,500 locations across the country, and these operations produced detailed records on how certain casinos had allowed online fraud networks to operate from their premises. Teams documented evidence of servers, communication equipment, and financial transaction systems tied to scam activities, and they compiled reports that outlined the specific ways operators had violated licensing terms. Observers note that the scale of these checks required coordination among multiple government agencies, yet the process yielded consistent data on the extent of involvement in fraudulent operations.

Enforcement Actions and License Reviews

Regulators moved to revoke or suspend licenses held by dozens of casinos after the inspections confirmed their participation in online fraud, and these decisions followed established procedures for addressing violations of national gaming laws. Court proceedings advanced in hundreds of cases tied directly to the raided sites, with prosecutors presenting evidence gathered during the sweeps. The enforcement steps aimed to remove operators who had permitted scam centers to function under the cover of legitimate casino businesses, and records show that the actions targeted both the physical locations and the digital infrastructure supporting the fraud.

Deportation of Foreign Nationals

More than 21,100 foreign nationals faced deportation after authorities linked them to the scam centers discovered during the raids, and officials processed these cases through standard immigration channels while coordinating with international partners on repatriation logistics. The deportations formed a key component of the broader crackdown, since many of the identified operations relied on overseas workers to manage online fraud schemes from Cambodian territory. Data from the operations indicate that the removals disrupted staffing patterns at the affected sites and reduced the immediate capacity of remaining networks to continue their activities.

Official Presentation of Findings

Prime Minister Hun Manet received the compiled report from Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith and characterized the document as a major step forward in restoring the country’s reputation, and the presentation occurred at the 24 July 2026 Cabinet meeting where members reviewed the one-year report into online scam crackdown results. The report summarized the inspection totals, enforcement measures, and deportation figures in a single overview that highlighted progress achieved during the June 2025 to June 2026 period. Cabinet members examined the statistics on raided centers and court cases as part of their discussion on next-phase actions.

Impact on Licensed Casino Operations

The 72 casinos found to have connections with online fraud represent a significant portion of the 195 licensed facilities nationwide, and the remaining operators now operate under heightened scrutiny following the completion of the sweeps. License reviews continue for additional sites where preliminary findings suggested partial involvement, and regulators have issued guidance requiring stricter monitoring of online activities conducted from casino premises. These measures build on the initial round of revocations and suspensions already implemented at dozens of locations.

Conclusion

The one-year crackdown produced measurable outcomes in the form of raids, inspections, license actions, deportations, and ongoing court cases, and the report delivered to the Cabinet in July 2026 documented these results in detail. Cambodian authorities continue to track developments at the affected sites while processing the remaining legal proceedings that arose from the nationwide effort. The findings from the inspection of all 195 licensed casinos provide a clear record of how the campaign addressed the identified connections to online fraud.