Cambodian Sweep Exposes Fraud Links in Dozens of Licensed Casinos

Government teams across Cambodia completed a full review of all 195 licensed casinos and identified 72 properties tied directly to online fraud operations, according to findings presented in late July 2026. The review formed one part of a broader twelve-month effort running from June 2025 through June 2026 that targeted scam centers operating under the cover of legitimate gambling licenses. Officials raided 737 centers in total and checked 28,500 separate locations while collecting evidence for hundreds of court proceedings.

Data compiled by Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith outlined how operators at the flagged casinos used licensed premises to run large-scale online schemes that defrauded victims outside the country. Teams revoked or suspended multiple casino licenses as a direct result of the findings, and authorities deported more than 21,100 foreign nationals suspected of involvement. Prime Minister Hun Manet received the compiled report and described it as an important milestone in efforts to improve the country's international standing.

Scale of the Inspection Process

Inspectors visited every licensed casino in the country over the course of the year-long operation, cross-checking physical sites against digital activity records that pointed to coordinated fraud. The process required coordination between multiple agencies that examined both on-site gambling facilities and the online platforms connected to them. Teams documented how certain operators diverted resources from regulated gaming floors toward hidden servers and call centers designed to deceive remote targets.

Figures released with the report show that 72 of the 195 casinos had clear connections to these activities, while the remaining properties passed inspection without evidence of similar involvement. The distinction mattered because regulators could then focus enforcement actions on the specific locations where fraud had taken root rather than applying blanket measures across the entire sector. Observers note that this targeted approach allowed legitimate operators to continue business while the others faced immediate consequences.

Enforcement Actions and Legal Follow-Up

Raids on 737 centers produced evidence that led to license actions against dozens of casinos and initiated hundreds of separate court cases. Deportation proceedings removed more than 21,100 foreign nationals who had been working at or managing the scam operations. Court documents detail charges ranging from fraud and money laundering to operating unlicensed online platforms from within licensed premises.

Authorities coordinated the removal of foreign workers with immigration records that showed many had entered the country on business visas tied to the same casino groups later implicated in the fraud. The one-year report into online scam crackdown submitted to the Cabinet on 24 July 2026 includes breakdowns of each phase of enforcement, showing how initial raids uncovered larger networks that required follow-up investigations at additional sites. Prosecutors continue to prepare cases using the physical evidence and digital logs collected during those operations.

Official Response and Next Steps

Prime Minister Hun Manet reviewed the report from Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith and noted its role in addressing long-standing concerns about Cambodia's reputation. The document records specific steps already taken, including license revocations and the deportation numbers, while outlining ongoing monitoring to prevent similar activity at remaining casinos. Cabinet members discussed how the data could inform future regulatory changes aimed at tightening oversight of online operations attached to physical gambling licenses.

Those familiar with the inspection process point out that the effort combined physical raids with digital forensics, allowing investigators to trace server activity back to the 72 casinos identified in the final count. The approach produced a clear record of which properties had crossed from legitimate gaming into fraud facilitation and which had stayed within permitted boundaries. Additional inspections continue at a smaller scale to verify that closed operations do not resume under new management.

Conclusion

The nationwide inspection of Cambodia's 195 licensed casinos delivered a detailed accounting of fraud involvement at 72 sites and supported enforcement that included raids, license actions, deportations, and court filings. The one-year report presented in July 2026 captures the full scope of work completed between June 2025 and June 2026, providing government leaders with concrete figures on which to base continued regulatory adjustments.