Cambodia to suspend online gambling at casinos from October
The government plans to use the suspension period to improve regulatory systems and build specialist expertise for monitoring online gambling.
Cambodia. The Cambodian government has announced plans to suspend online gambling at casinos from October 2026. The decision was announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sar Sokha on Saturday during an event in Takeo province. He said the suspension follows a directive from Prime Minister Hun Manet and will apply to all casinos across the country.
According to Sokha, the measure is intended to give authorities greater control over online gambling activity and the movement of funds linked to such operations. He said the volume of online transactions in the sector made it harder for authorities to monitor financial flows and identify potentially illicit funds.
He said the government would use the period of suspension to strengthen legislation and regulations, digital infrastructure and expertise needed to oversee the sector. However, there was no hint at how long the suspension will last. Any decision to allow online gambling operations to resume will depend on the implementation of the new regulatory and monitoring measures. Sokha said.
He warned casino operators to comply with the suspension when it takes effect. Those that continue providing online gambling services could face legal action, including the cancellation of their operating licences.
Cambodia has introduced the new Law on Combating Technology-Enabled Scams in April 2026, covering offences including online fraud, scam centres and related money laundering, with penalties of up to life imprisonment. Between July 2025 and July 2026, authorities inspected 195 licensed casinos, revoked 20 licences and suspended another 29 over links to cyber-fraud operations.
