Cambodian Casinos Shut Down Online Gambling Operations After September Deadline

Cambodian authorities through the Secretariat of the Ad Hoc Commission for Combating Online Scams confirmed that 24 casinos have ended all online gambling and betting activities following the nationwide deadline of September 30. The facilities removed related equipment including servers and streaming setups used for livestreamed gaming along with platforms for online soccer betting lotteries and sporting bird competitions. Officials stated that these actions align with prior government directives banning online gambling and connect to broader efforts targeting scams.

Breakdown of Affected Casinos by Province

The 24 casinos span three provinces with 12 located in Preah Sihanouk 7 in Banteay Meanchey and 5 in Svay Rieng. Each site halted digital operations and cleared physical traces of online betting infrastructure according to commission reports. Authorities noted that the closures applied uniformly without exceptions for specific game types or formats.

Enforcement teams conducted follow-up checks in early October 2026 to verify compliance. The commission indicated that continued monitoring will extend into subsequent months to detect any resumption of prohibited activities. Violations identified during these inspections will trigger legal proceedings as stated in official warnings.

Context of the Nationwide Ban

The government had issued the online gambling prohibition earlier with the September 30 cutoff serving as the final enforcement trigger. This measure forms part of coordinated actions against scam operations that often utilize online betting platforms. The Ad Hoc Commission for Combating Online Scams coordinated the verification process across the listed provinces and collected documentation from each casino confirming equipment removal and service termination.

Officials from the commission emphasized that no transitional periods or partial allowances would apply after the deadline. Data from provincial reports showed that the 24 facilities represented a significant portion of sites previously engaged in digital gambling activities. The crackdown extends monitoring responsibilities to local law enforcement units that will report any detected breaches directly to the secretariat.

Legal Consequences and Monitoring Procedures

Authorities warned that any casino resuming online operations faces legal action without exception. The commission outlined procedures for ongoing surveillance that include site visits document reviews and coordination with internet service providers to block associated domains. These steps build on existing frameworks established under the broader anti-scam initiative.

Provincial governments in Preah Sihanouk Banteay Meanchey and Svay Rieng received instructions to maintain records of compliance and submit monthly updates to the central commission. The approach ensures systematic tracking rather than one-time inspections according to statements released alongside the confirmation.

Connection to Broader Regulatory Efforts

The actions against the 24 casinos tie directly into national policies aimed at disrupting networks that combine gambling with fraudulent schemes. Commission records indicate that equipment removal prevents immediate reactivation of livestreamed events or betting interfaces. Observers note that similar enforcement patterns have appeared in other sectors targeted by the same anti-scam campaign.

Officials referenced the Cambodia Bans Online Gambling and Betting Nationwide directive as the foundational policy guiding these closures. The commission continues to collect evidence from additional sites to determine whether further shutdowns will occur in the coming weeks.

Conclusion

The confirmation from the Secretariat of the Ad Hoc Commission for Combating Online Scams establishes that the 24 casinos completed the required steps to end online gambling by the September 30 deadline. Provincial distributions equipment clearances and enforcement warnings form the core elements of this development. Ongoing monitoring mechanisms remain active to uphold the ban across affected regions.