PHNOM PENH: Cambodian authorities plan to expand inspections of casinos nationwide to suppress online gambling operations. Senior officials warned of legal action against those involved in such activities, amid the continuing crackdown on online scams.
An inspection plan was outlined at an October 5 meeting between the secretariat of the Commission for Combating Technology Crimes and the Commercial Gambling Management Commission of Cambodia. The meeting was attended by authorities from all 16 capital and provincial administrations with casino locations.
According to a joint statement, the meeting focused on enforcing the prohibition of online gambling within casino buildings and compounds, and organising joint teams to check for covert operations.
Yet Vinel, secretary-general of the gambling regulator, said the commission was seeking cooperation from the anti-scam secretariat and relevant authorities, and will begin the inspections this month.
The inspections aim to ensure casinos do not secretly operate online gambling in violation of the conditions of licenses issued by the regulator.
If violations are found, the commission will take regulatory action and cooperate with relevant institutions to pursue legal action against all those involved, he said.
Chhay Sinarith, senior minister in charge of special missions and permanent vice-chairman of the anti-scam commission, reiterated that enforcement would continue against premises linked to online scams and covert online gambling.
“The government will not stop here. It will continue taking firm action against any premises involved in online scam activities,” he said.
Sinarith, who also heads the commission’s secretariat, linked enforcement against improperly regulated online gambling to efforts to combat fraud and money laundering.
“Firm action will also be taken against premises secretly operating online gambling, because unregulated online gambling is a form of fraud,” he said.
He added that action must comply with the law on combating online scams, the law on anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism, and other applicable laws and regulations.
The inspection plan follows the International Conference on Combating Online Scams, which Cambodia hosted on September 23–24.
Representatives of nearly 30 countries and international organisations attended the conference and jointly adopted the 11-point Phnom Penh Declaration on cooperation against online scams and transnational crime.
Sinarith highlighted that the anti-scam secretariat remained open to cooperation with national and international institutions. He also urged relevant authorities to prepare to work with the gambling regulator to ensure the casino inspections are carried out effectively. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
