(AsiaGameHub) – Cambodia has expanded its crackdown on online scam networks, beginning with the closure of a casino in Preah Sihanouk followed by another operation in Phnom Penh. This move draws new focus to the close overlap between segments of the casino industry and online fraud incidents.
Good to Know
- On April 5, authorities shut down and sealed Gang Dao Casino, detaining 108 individuals suspected of involvement in scams.
- Subsequently, police raided a condominium unit in Phnom Penh and apprehended eight additional foreign suspects.
- Cambodia is currently enforcing a newly passed anti-online scam law, which includes penalties up to life imprisonment.
Casino Shutdown Triggers Broader Scam Crackdown in Cambodia
While a license revocation was the initial visible action, the larger context is more extensive. Over the past two days, Cambodian authorities have targeted suspected scam operations across multiple locations, combining the shutdown of a Preah Sihanouk casino with a separate raid in Phnom Penh.
Regarding Gang Dao Casino, the General Secretariat of Cambodia’s Commercial Gambling Management Commission stated that officials sealed and searched the premises on April 5. The operation resulted in 108 detentions: 105 Chinese citizens and three Burmese citizens. Authorities also confiscated around 500 computers and over 1,000 mobile phones suspected of being used in scam-related activities.
Following the search, officials determined that the operator, Gang Dao International Entertainment, had violated the Law on Commercial Gambling Management. The commission subsequently revoked Casino License No. 325, which was issued on November 19, 2025. Officials characterized this step as part of an intensified enforcement effort to break up online scam networks that have harmed Cambodia’s social stability and international reputation.
Beyond the casino, another raid highlighted the growing scope of the crackdown. On April 6, Phnom Penh authorities took down an alleged online scam operation located in a condominium unit at the JD Polman building in Sen Sok district. Investigators reported that the unit housed a replica of a Japanese police station.
Eight foreign nationals were arrested at the site: five Japanese and three Chinese. Per the Commission for Combating Online Scams, the group is accused of impersonating Japanese police officers and using falsified legal documents to defraud victims in Japan. Seized items included 14 mobile phones, a CPU, a monitor, three iPads, five Japanese police uniforms, two police caps, and counterfeit documents such as complaints, contracts, and arrest warrants.
While the two raids appeared distinct on the surface, they both signaled the same trend: Cambodia is demonstrating that casinos, condominiums, and any other locations used for online scams are all subject to enforcement actions.
This tougher stance is supported by the newly implemented Law on Combating Online Scams. The legislation establishes five criminal offenses: online fraud, organizing or leading scam hubs, recruiting or training scam participants, illegal collection of personal data, and specific types of money laundering. Penalties may include life imprisonment, fines of up to one billion riel, and seizure of associated assets.
Officials stated that enforcement will proceed “strictly and without exception” in collaboration with the Commission for Combating Online Scams and other relevant agencies. They also warned gambling operators that no location in Cambodia will be allowed to serve as a safe haven for online scam operations.
Prime Minister Hun Manet has echoed this message in stronger terms. He emphasized that Cambodia “is not a place for cybercriminals to run scams or transnational crimes”, noting that those responsible for such activities will face the harshest penalties with no leniency or outside interference.
The Gang Dao case also fits into a larger discussion about casino-associated scam facilities in Cambodia. Amnesty International recently claimed that some licensed casino properties have been linked to abusive scam operations, even as the government asserts it is dismantling the industry. This is why the recent raids will be closely monitored: officials view them as proof of stricter action, while critics see them as a test of whether enforcement will extend beyond a few high-profile cases.
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