PHNOM PENH: Prime Minister Hun Manet (pic) has ruled out the issuance of any casino licences in Siem Reap province, while ordering a review of the country’s more than 100 existing casinos to determine whether such a large number is necessary.
Manet made the remarks this morning, as he attended the inauguration of the Luang Mae Hospital in Phnom Penh, noting that the decision to keep casinos out of Siem Reap followed requests from potential operators seeking licences.
“Just as under former Prime Minister Hun Sen, under the new government that I lead, there will absolutely be no casino licences in Siem Reap. Let me make it clear: there will be none. Please do not request one,” he said.
The prime minister noted that the government welcomes proposals for hotels and other developments that could contribute to national development, raise the profile of Siem Reap and support its tourism sector.
However, he said applications to establish casinos in the province would not be approved, even if the lack of casinos resulted in an economic downturn.
“If it collapses because there are no casinos, let it collapse. We will take responsibility because this is a heritage province,” he said.
“As for online gambling and other betting activities, we have already suspended them. From the beginning of October, there will be none,” he added.
The government recently reiterated that online gambling operations conducted from casinos will be suspended nationwide from October as authorities strengthen controls over technology-related scams, suspicious financial flows and illicit activities linked to casino premises.
Manet also explained that his government is reviewing the country’s casino sector, noting that Cambodia now has more than 100 casinos and questioning whether such a large number is necessary.
He said the original policy behind allowing casinos, particularly in border areas, was intended to attract broader economic activity rather than simply create venues for gambling.
“I am having our more than 100 casinos reviewed. Is it necessary to have so many? The conditions have now been increased. Investment must be at least US$100 million,” he said.
“In the past, the requirements were lower — even a shophouse could become a casino. But not anymore. There must be adequate infrastructure, because the original concept was not to have casinos simply for the sake of having casinos,” he added.
Manet said a new working group had been established to examine the issue, alongside an existing one.
The review comes as authorities have intensified scrutiny of the casino sector as part of the wider campaign against online scams. In September, the government said licences for 18 casinos linked to online scam activities were revoked, with nine others suspended pending further investigation.
Authorities have inspected all 195 licensed casinos nationwide, according to a government report. Of them, 123 were found to have no evidence of involvement in online scam activities while the remaining 72 had already suspended operations. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
