Cambodia's Nationwide Casino Inspections Uncover Online Fraud Ties

Cambodian authorities completed a one-year crackdown on online scams that reached into the country's licensed casino sector, and the findings show how deeply some operations had become entangled with fraud networks. The report covers activities from June 2025 through June 2026, when officials examined every one of the 195 licensed casinos and determined that 72 of them were connected to online fraud schemes. Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith submitted the findings to the Cabinet, and the document outlines raids, license actions, and the removal of foreign nationals who had participated in the illicit activities.

Inspection Reach Across Thousands of Sites

Officials conducted inspections at 28,500 locations nationwide, which included the full set of casinos plus additional suspected scam centers, and these efforts led to 737 raids on online scam operations during the twelve-month period. The scale of the operation required coordination across multiple agencies, and the results illustrate how regulators moved from initial checks to direct interventions once evidence of fraud surfaced. Data from the report shows that authorities maintained pressure throughout the year, with inspections continuing even after early raids produced arrests and closures.

Those who've followed regulatory actions in the region note that Cambodia's approach combined broad sweeps with targeted follow-ups, and the numbers reflect both the extent of the problem and the resources devoted to addressing it. The 72 casinos flagged for involvement represent more than one-third of the total licensed venues, which prompted immediate license reviews for the affected properties.

License Revocations, Suspensions, and Closures

Regulators revoked 19 casino licenses outright, suspended another 30, and recorded that 23 additional casinos had already ceased operations by the time inspectors arrived. These actions removed dozens of venues from the market and sent a clear signal to remaining operators that involvement with online fraud would carry direct consequences. The report ties each decision to evidence gathered during the inspections, and officials documented specific connections between the casinos and scam centers that used the properties for coordination or money movement.

License holders received formal notifications, and the process allowed for appeals in certain cases while still maintaining the overall timeline for enforcement. Observers note that the combination of revocations and suspensions effectively reduced the number of active venues tied to fraudulent activity, and the 23 voluntary closures further shrank the footprint of questionable operations.

Deportations and Cross-Border Cooperation

More than 21,100 foreign nationals were deported as part of the crackdown, and the report emphasizes the role of international cooperation in identifying individuals linked to scam networks. Cambodian authorities worked with foreign governments to verify identities and coordinate removals, and this collaboration extended to sharing intelligence on how scam centers operated across borders. The deportations targeted people who had entered the country to participate in online fraud, and the numbers demonstrate the multinational nature of the operations that had taken root in some casino-related sites.

Figures in the report link the deportations directly to raids on the 737 scam centers, and officials tracked how many individuals were processed through each phase of enforcement. International partners provided support for document verification and travel arrangements, which allowed Cambodian authorities to complete removals without prolonged detention. The report presents these outcomes as the result of sustained coordination rather than isolated actions.

Broader Context of the Enforcement Effort

The one-year report into online scam crackdown details how initial inspections of all 195 casinos served as the starting point for wider investigations that reached far beyond gambling venues. While the casino findings received prominent attention, the total inspections at 28,500 locations show that authorities cast a wide net across commercial and residential properties suspected of housing scam infrastructure. The 737 raids produced evidence that fed back into casino license reviews, creating a feedback loop that strengthened the overall case against implicated operators.

Authorities maintained records of each action, and the report connects specific raids to subsequent license decisions involving the 72 casinos. This documentation process helped ensure that enforcement stayed consistent across different regions and property types. The data also tracks how many locations transitioned from inspection to raid status once initial findings indicated active fraud operations.

Conclusion

The Cambodian government's report on the June 2025 to June 2026 period records measurable outcomes from the online scam crackdown, including the identification of 72 casinos out of 195 that were involved in fraud, the completion of 737 raids, and the deportation of more than 21,100 foreign nationals. License actions removed 19 venues permanently and suspended 30 others, while 23 additional casinos stopped operating on their own. International cooperation supported the deportation process, and the inspection of 28,500 locations provided the foundation for the year's enforcement steps. The findings stand as a record of regulatory activity focused on one specific set of operations during that twelve-month window.