Cambodia has intensified its fight against cybercrime, shutting down 91 casinos linked to online scams as part of a broader enforcement push targeting illegal gambling and fraud networks.
According to authorities, more than 250 facilities related to scams have been closed in the nine months ending December, with multiple raids being executed on facilities suspected of online fraud and illegally operating. More than 13,000 other foreign citizens were deported, with over 240,000 more reported to have left the country voluntarily between mid-January and mid-April as part of this crackdown.
The action has resulted from increased pressure from China, whose Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi, visited Phnom Penh on April 22 and pushed for the government to take stronger actions to stop cross-border gambling and cyber scams.
According to state media reports, the 91 casinos involved in the closures are either directly involved with scam activities or facilitate online fraud networks, and gives rise to the suspicion that they may be being used as fronts for cybercrime.
Along with the increased enforcement of existing laws regarding gambling, new legislation has been passed that creates a new anti-scam law that became effective on April 6. This law imposes severe penalties including life prison terms for serious offenses of this kind.
As part of the directive from Hun Sen, Cambodia has taken major steps toward combating cybercrime, and is showing its capability to more completely regulate its gambling industry, all due to the pressure being put on it by China, the United States, and many other regional entities.
