PHNOM PENH: The authorities have revoked the licence of a casino in Svay Rieng province after an investigation uncovered an online scam operation that led to the detention of 107 foreign nationals.
The Commercial Gambling Management Commission of Cambodia (CGMC) confirmed that an April 1 operation discovered the scam centre, at Shang Hai Resort casino, in Samraong commune, Chantrea district.
Authorities said the inspection uncovered activities linked to online scam operations inside the casino premises.
The raid was conducted in cooperation with the National Police, the Svay Rieng Unified Command and the Prosecutor’s Office of the Svay Rieng Provincial Court, as part of the government’s stated goal of eradicating online scams by Khmer New Year.
“The authorities confiscated relevant equipment and materials and detained a total of 107 foreign nationals, including 26 women, of four different nationalities, who were transferred to the relevant authorities for further legal procedures,” said the CGMC.
The CGMC determined that the Shang Hai Resort parent company had violated provisions under the Law on the Management of Commercial Gambling. The commission revoked Casino Licence No. 040 CGMC, originally issued on July 28, 2022, in accordance with an official decision dated April 3, 2026.
The crackdown forms part of the government’s broader efforts under Command No. 01, issued on July 14, 2025, aimed at eradicating online scams across the country.
The CGMC said it will continue to work closely with the Secretariat of the Ad Hoc Commission for Combating Online Scams and other relevant authorities to inspect all casino locations suspected of involvement in similar activities.
The commission reiterated its commitment to strictly enforcing regulations and eliminating online scam operations, which have increasingly drawn regional and international concern in recent years. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
