TLDR
- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet announced a halt to online gambling tied to physical casinos starting in October 2026.
- The move targets technology-related fraud and money laundering linked to online betting operations.
- No exact start date or enforcement details were given for the suspension.
- Hun Manet also called Cambodia’s casino count, over 100, too high and ordered a licensing review.
- Casinos in Cambodia mainly serve foreign tourists, since local citizens are barred from gambling by law.
Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet has announced that online gambling activities connected to physical casinos will stop from October 2026. He made the announcement during the opening of the Queen Mother Hospital in Phnom Penh.
The decision is aimed at cutting down on fraud and money laundering. Hun Manet said online gambling has grown too difficult for authorities to monitor and control.
He did not give an exact date in October for when the suspension will begin. The government also has not said how the rule will be enforced.
Why the Government Is Acting
The suspension is linked to ongoing concerns about scams that use online technology. Officials say these activities are hard to track once they move through digital channels tied to casino operations.
This is part of a larger effort by Cambodia to fight tech-based fraud. The government wants to stop scam networks from using casino-linked platforms to operate.
Hun Manet said the crackdown will stay strict. Online gambling tied to land-based casinos will remain suspended until officials are satisfied that fraud and illegal money transfers are under control.
No criteria were shared for when the suspension might be lifted. The government has not outlined next steps beyond the October start date.
Casino Licenses Under Review
Separately, Hun Manet said Cambodia currently has too many casinos. The country has more than 100 licensed gambling venues.
He has ordered authorities to review the rules for issuing casino licenses. The goal is to reduce the overall number of casinos operating in the country.
This license review is a separate action from the online gambling suspension. Both are part of the government’s wider push to tighten control over the gambling industry.
The prime minister did not say how many casinos he wants Cambodia to have going forward. No timeline was given for finishing the license review.
For now, officials have confirmed they will study the conditions casinos must meet to keep their licenses. That review will guide future decisions on cutting the number of venues.
Cambodian law bans citizens from gambling in casinos. This means casino licenses have traditionally been issued to attract foreign visitors rather than serve the local population.
Most of Cambodia’s casinos sit along international borders or in the coastal province of Preah Sihanouk. The one exception is NagaWorld, a casino resort located in the capital, Phnom Penh.
The border and coastal locations reflect how Cambodia has built its casino industry around tourism. Foreign visitors, not local residents, remain the main customer base for these venues.
As of now, the October suspension and the casino license review stand as the two confirmed actions from Hun Manet’s announcement. No further details have been released on timing or enforcement.
