Cambodia Swarming With Illegal Operators, Government Proclaims Ban of Online Gambling

South-East Asian nation of Cambodia has a very severe ongoing problem of illegal gambling operators flooding the market. Unable to combat the issue until better regulations are put in place, the government has announced a complete and indefinite prohibition of online gambling.

The first step is already taken in that the issuing of new online gambling licenses has already ceased.

Extortion and Cheating

Hun Sen, the Prime Minister of Cambodia, has signed a decree on August 18th...

...that is the beginning of an organized clamping down on illegal gambling in this Asian country. According to him, it is true that as many as 150 operators have claimed their licenses (the estimate comes from local media outlets), a significant number of illegal operators is still running business in country unobtrusively. These target Cambodian as well as foreign players.

It is the province of Shihanouk that is particularly under fire and a target by these. This region is illegal operators' first choice as their base. They even went so far as to cheat and extort money from players. The government officials are concerned that this can severely effect the social order in the country.

All Means Necessary to Put a Stop to This

Cambodia Express News published a story that has government representatives saying as that there will be no longer new licenses issued. They didn't provide any info on updating gambling regulation except for a brief remark that there will be no update for a foreseeable future.

Those who are already licensed will continue to operate until their licenses expire. Once that happens, they will have to cease all operations in the country.

Government instructs its forces to strengthen their search for culprits of illegal gambling and crack down on their activity using all means necessary.

Gambling was already outlawed in Cambodia in 1996, after a large number of citizens developed issues related to problem gambling. After that, private lotteries were still allowed and foreigners who came to Cambodia could gamble in casinos.

Asia's Quirks and Realities

Asia, being a vast continent, is also a very complex and quite uneven market...

...with Macau being the world's largest gambling hub where plenty of wealthy Chinese tourists come to gamble, but in China, itself, gambling is still very much a taboo. Japan, one of the world's most developed nation, had a similar outlook on gambling until very recently when casino construction was approved by Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, and now this nation is waiting on its first batch of integrated casino resorts.

Prior to the historic Donald Trump/Kim Jong Un summit, North Korea even hinted at opening up and building a casino resort that would be available to tourists exclusively, although this story hasn't developed or gained any new ground since.

Slotegrator's Ill Fortune and G2E Asia Coming Up

Online casino software provider, Slotergator, attended the Asia Gaming Expo on June 27th and 28th at Sokha Beach Resort, Sihanoukville in Cambodia. Despite initial good impressions, the announced shut-down of online gambling market in this country will most likely corrupt this company's plans for expansion.

A much better fortune is due to happen on December 3rd and 4th at Manila Marriott Hotel where the inaugural Global Gaming Expo (G2E) Asia will take place.

The G2E Asia @ Philippines will be organized and held by Reed Exhibitions China Limited and American Gaming Association.

Source:

“Cambodia to ban online gambling”, igamingbusiness.com, August 19, 2019.