Cambodia’s online gambling and casino sector has recorded a drop in user interest following a sweeping enforcement campaign that culminated in the closure of 91 casinos in late Ap

Last April, Cambodia’s Gaming Control Committee ordered the revocation of the licences of dozens of venues in a coordinated move targeting alleged links to online scam operations. Authorities claimed that each of the affected casinos had either directly facilitated fraudulent schemes or hosted so-called “scam compounds.” These fortified sites are where trafficked workers are forced to run online fraud targeting victims abroad.

The closures form part of a broader nine-month crackdown aimed at dismantling these networks. Over that period, more than 250 suspected scam centres have been raided, and over 13,000 foreign nationals involved in such activities have been deported. A further 241,888 individuals are reported to have left the country voluntarily between mid-January and mid-April as enforcement intensified.
 

Steady decline in interest and engagement seen

The country’s Blask Index, which measures aggregated user interest based on search activity and engagement with gambling brands, has been on a steady downward trajectory since mid-2025. After reaching over 1 million in May 2025, the index declined continuously until September 2025.

Although there was a brief recovery towards the end of the year, the Blask Index shows that momentum did not hold. By February 2026, the figure had fallen sharply to 702,900, followed by 685,000 in March. In April this year, Blask Index recorded its 12-month low with 667,600.
 

New law intensifies enforcement push

 

The latest decline in the country’s user interest and engagement coincides with the introduction of stricter legal measures. In April, Cambodia’s new anti-scam law took effect. The new law imposes severe penalties on operators involved in fraudulent schemes, including life imprisonment in cases where such activities result in death.

Diplomatic pressure has also played a role in accelerating enforcement in the country. During a visit to Phnom Penh on 22 April, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Prime Minister Hun Manet and called for stronger action against cross-border gambling and online fraud. Beijing has repeatedly described such activities as a threat to public safety.
 

Amnesty report raises licensing contradictions

Separate findings from Amnesty International have added further scrutiny to Cambodia’s casino sector. In its report, the organisation said at least 12 government-approved casino complexes were connected to locations where victims reported forced labour, human trafficking and other serious abuses.

According to the investigation, several scam compounds identified by Amnesty were located within or alongside casino developments approved by the national regulator. The group said at least 11 previously documented compounds were located inside formally recognised casino sites, with some operators continuing to run these venues since at least 2022.

Amnesty said the findings were based on official documents, site visits and testimonies from individuals described as survivors. The group argued that licensing approvals previously granted in late 2025 and early 2026 appeared to conflict with the government’s public stance on dismantling the so-called “scam compounds.”

Testimonies cited in the report linked alleged abuse directly to casino-linked locations. The report said that individuals claimed they were detained and forced to work in facilities within a casino complex. Other accounts described prolonged confinement, threats of violence and coercion into financial activities believed to be tied to money laundering.

 

 

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