Cambodia moves toward formal casino licence renewal screening as anti-scam crackdown widens

Cambodia’s Commercial Gambling Management Commission of Cambodia (CGMC) is drafting a formal “integrity and quality” framework for casino licence renewals, while the government keeps tightening its anti-scam campaign. For operators, the message is simple: licence continuity is moving from a paperwork exercise to a suitability test.

1. The CGMC reviewed a draft of the new evaluation framework at a meeting chaired by Secretary General Yeth Vinel on 4 September. The proposed rules would set minimum conditions casinos must meet to keep or obtain a licence, but the scoring criteria and the official implementation date have not been published.
2. The timing matters because Cambodia is already moving hard against scams and illicit financial activity connected to casinos. According to Khmer Times, the government has announced that all online gambling activities at casinos will be suspended starting October 2026. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sar Sokha said casinos that breach the suspension after it takes effect risk licence revocation and further legal consequences.
3. The enforcement picture is already tangible. In August, Cambodia’s state news agency AKP said authorities inspected 195 licensed casinos nationwide as part of the anti-scam drive. That led to 20 licence revocations, 29 suspensions, and 23 licences lapsing naturally.
4. Touch Sokhak, deputy spokesperson of the Ministry of Interior, said the campaign is meant to stop Cambodia from becoming “a safe haven or money-laundering base for technology-related criminals”. For PSPs, acquirers, and banks, that is the part to watch: the regulatory focus is clearly on casino-linked payment flows, not just gaming compliance in the narrow sense.
5. The broader economy is already feeling the pressure. 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. Phnom Penh is also set to host a major anti-scam conference on 23-24 September, with the official theme now listed as “Acting Together towards Breaking the Chain and Eradication of Online Scams”.

The practical takeaway for high-risk payment providers: Cambodia is not only tightening casino oversight, it is explicitly linking casinos, cyber-fraud, and untraceable money flows. That tends to mean more scrutiny on merchant onboarding, source-of-funds checks, and whether a casino’s payment stack can survive a renewed licence review.