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Gambling and online casinos in Cambodia
Cambodia is a country where gambling plays a key role in the economy and international investment.
Despite strict restrictions on citizens, the country has been attracting foreigners and casino operators for decades, becoming a kind of "Asian Las Vegas for neighbors" - primarily for players from China, Thailand and Vietnam.
Dozens of land-based casinos operate here legally, and until 2020 Cambodia was the main center of online gambling in Asia.
Legislative framework
The main documents governing gambling are:1. The Law on the Management of Integrated Resorts and Commercial Gambling (2020) is the main law governing the licensing and control of casinos.
2. Royal Decree on Casino Business (1996) - allowed the creation of casinos for foreign tourists.
3. Sub-Decree No. 17 (2020) - approved a ban on online gambling and remote betting.
Key provisions of the 2020 law:- casinos can only operate under license from the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF);
- Cambodian citizens are prohibited from playing any gambling game other than the state lottery;
- online gambling and "distance betting" are officially prohibited;
- gambling taxes account for 15-20% of gross profit (GGR);
- all casinos are required to comply with Responsible Gambling and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) standards.
Casino industry development
Cambodia began to develop gambling in the 1990s, betting on tourism and foreign investment.
Since then, the sector has grown into a large-scale casino network along the borders with Thailand, Vietnam and Laos, as well as in southern resorts.
The main game centers are:- Sihanoukville
- until 2019, more than 80 casinos operated here, many of which conducted online operations;
today about 30 licensed establishments remain after the reform and closure of illegal ones.
Poipet (Thai border)
the largest border gambling district targeting Thai gamblers;
Over 15 casinos operate, including Star Vegas, Crown Casino, Grand Diamond City.
Bavet (Vietnam border)
a popular casino tourism center for Vietnamese;
hotels, VIP lounges and integrated resorts are developing.
Phnom Penh (capital)
there are several premium casinos, including the legendary NagaWorld, the largest casino complex in Southeast Asia, owned by NagaCorp (Hong Kong).
Online gambling: from heyday to ban
Until 2020, Cambodia was the global hub of iGaming, especially for Chinese operators.
Thousands of online casinos operated under MEF licenses, hiring tens of thousands of IT specialists, marketers and support specialists.
However, in August 2019, Prime Minister Hun Sen announced a complete ban on online gambling, effective January 1, 2020.
Reasons:- pressure from China, worried about massive online scams;
- increased crime and money laundering;
- social problems related to addiction and illegal transfers.
- about 200 online gambling licenses canceled;
- tens of thousands of foreign workers (predominantly Chinese) left the country;
- income from the online gambling industry decreased by more than 70%.
Nevertheless, some operators continued to work illegally, using VPNs, offshore hosting and cryptocurrencies.
Economic importance
Despite the ban on online gambling, land-based casinos remain the most important source of income for the budget.
According to the Ministry of Economy and Finance (2024):- about 125 licensed casinos operate in Cambodia;
- tax revenues from the gambling industry amount to more than $200 million per year;
- the sector provides over 20,000 jobs.
Casino tourism is one of the pillars of the economy, along with the textile industry and construction.
The influx of tourists from China, Thailand and Vietnam is especially important.
Taxation
Control and supervision
The main regulatory body is the Commercial Gambling Management Commission of Cambodia (CGMC) under the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
CGMC functions:- issue and renewal of licenses;
- financial supervision and audit;
- countering money laundering;
- Responsible Gaming control;
- coordination with the police and the Home Office to tackle illegal operators.
After the ban on online gambling, an interdepartmental group was created to monitor the digital activity of casinos and IT companies.
Social and cultural aspect
Cambodian society is ambivalent about gambling.
Buddhism, the dominant religion, condemns excitement as a vice, but the economic benefits of gambling tourism force the state to take a pragmatic position.
Cambodian citizens are prohibited from visiting casinos, but this ban is often circumvented through "tourist passports" and false documents.
The authorities periodically conduct raids and arrests to maintain the "social appearance" of strict control.
Shadow market
Despite the official ban, illegal online operators continue to operate, especially in border areas.
Cryptocurrency transactions are used (USDT, TRX, BTC);- Hidden iGaming centers operate in Sihanoukville and Poipet;
Players from China and Thailand place bets via Telegram and WeChat.
Interpol (2024) estimates that Cambodia remains one of the key gray online gambling hubs in Asia, along with Myanmar and the Philippines.
Development prospects
The Cambodian government intends to maintain the legal land sector, but not return to allowing online gambling.
Main priorities:1. Development of integrated resorts (IR) to attract VIP tourists.
2. Establishment of a national lottery system managed by MEF.
3. Strengthening the fight against illegal iGaming operators.
4. Attracting foreign investment from unauthorized jurisdictions (Singapore, Malaysia).
However, experts note that given favorable political conditions, Cambodia could partially legalize online gambling by 2027-2028 to compete with the Philippines and Laos.
Cambodia is a country where gambling has become part of the national economy, but balances between legality and prohibition.
Casinos bring in millions of dollars and thousands of jobs, but online gambling has been hit by international politics and corruption scandals.
is officially against online gambling, but in fact remains one of the largest shadow iGaming centers in Asia.
And although the country has closed online casinos to the public, the excitement still lives here - only quieter and deeper than before.
