Cambodia’s gambling regulatory authority, the Commercial Gambling Management Commission of Cambodia (CGMC), is advancing plans to introduce a formal suitability screening process for casino licence renewals.
CGMC drafts casino licence renewal framework
The CGMC reviewed a draft of the new evaluation framework during a meeting chaired by Secretary General Yeth Vinel on 4 September.
The proposed “integrity and quality” framework aims to establish minimum conditions that operators must meet to maintain or obtain a licence, signalling a strengthening of oversight in the sector. The details of the scoring criteria and an official implementation date remain unpublished.
Anti-scam crackdown intensifies enforcement
The timing of regulatory tightening coincides with a vigorous government campaign against scams and illicit financial activities linked to casinos.
According to Khmer Times, the Cambodian government has announced a landmark decision to suspend all online gambling activities at its casinos starting October 2026.
The move aims to clean up the gaming sector by cutting ties between casinos, cyber-fraud operations and untraceable money flows. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sar Sokha warned that any casino found breaching the suspension after it takes effect risks licence revocation and further legal consequences.
In August, Cambodia’s state news agency, AKP, reported that authorities had inspected 195 licensed casinos nationwide as part of a broader anti-scam crackdown. This resulted in the revocation of 20 licences and the suspension of 29 others, with an additional 23 licences lapsing naturally.
Touch Sokhak, deputy spokesperson of the Ministry of Interior, emphasised that the operation seeks to prevent Cambodia from becoming “a safe haven or money-laundering base for technology-related criminals”.
However, the sustained enforcement drive has already taken a toll on the wider Cambodian economy. In May, the government lowered its 2026 GDP growth forecast as construction, real estate and consumer spending absorb the short-term impact of the crackdown.
Framework timeline unclear as conference looms
Meanwhile, the CGMC has not disclosed when the integrity and quality framework will be finalised, leaving casino operators without concrete guidance on the new requirements.
The gap comes as Phnom Penh prepares to host its major anti-scam conference on 23-24 September, part of the wider government campaign against online scam networks.
Initially framed as “Together Towards Disrupting the Chain and Ending Online Scams” by AKP in August, the conference now carries the theme “Acting Together towards Breaking the Chain and Eradication of Online Scams” on its official website.
Prime Minister Hun Manet has publicly characterised the crackdown as an effort to “clean our house” and restore Cambodia’s reputation internationally.
柬埔寨博彩监管机构柬埔寨商业博彩管理委员会（CGMC）正在推进为赌场牌照续期引入正式适格性审查流程的计划。
CGMC起草赌场牌照续期框架
9月4日，在秘书长Yeth Vinel主持的一次会议上，CGMC审议了新评估框架的草案。
拟议的“诚信与质量”框架旨在确立运营商维持或取得牌照必须满足的最低条件，标志着该行业监管的加强。评分标准细节及正式实施日期尚未公布。
反诈骗打击行动加大执法力度
监管收紧的时机恰逢政府大力开展针对与赌场相关的诈骗及非法金融活动的行动。
据《高棉时报》报道，柬埔寨政府宣布了一项具有里程碑意义的决定，自2026年10月起暂停其所有赌场的线上博彩活动。
此举旨在切断赌场、网络诈骗活动与无法追踪的资金流动之间的联系，以整顿博彩行业。副首相兼内政大臣Sar Sokha警告称，任何赌场若在暂停令生效后被发现有违规行为，将面临牌照被吊销及进一步法律后果。
8月，柬埔寨国家通讯社AKP报道称，作为更广泛反诈骗打击行动的一部分，当局已对全国195家持牌赌场进行了检查。此次行动导致20个牌照被吊销、29个牌照被暂停，另有23个牌照自然失效。
内政部副发言人Touch Sokhak强调，此次行动旨在防止柬埔寨成为“技术相关犯罪分子的避风港或洗钱基地”。
然而，持续的执法行动已对柬埔寨整体经济造成影响。5月，政府下调了2026年GDP增长预期，因建筑业、房地产业和消费者支出正承受此次打击行动的短期冲击。
会议临近，框架时间表仍不明朗
与此同时，CGMC尚未披露诚信与质量框架将于何时定稿，使赌场运营商对新要求缺乏具体指引。
这一空白出现之际，金边正准备于9月23日至24日主办其大型反诈骗会议，这是政府打击网络诈骗网络更广泛行动的一部分。
该会议最初由AKP在8月定调为“携手瓦解链条、终结网络诈骗”，如今其官方网站上的主题为“共同行动，打破链条，根除网络诈骗”。
首相洪玛耐公开将此次打击行动描述为“打扫我们的房子”、恢复柬埔寨国际声誉的努力。