Five casinos in Cambodia shut down over suspected online scams

Cambodia’s gaming regulators have revoked the licences of five casinos in two provinces after uncovering evidence of illegal online operations, escalating a wider crackdown on scam networks operating under the cover of licensed gambling businesses.

The General Secretariat of the Commercial Gambling Management Commission of Cambodia (CGMC) confirmed that four properties in the coastal province of Preah Sihanouk and another in Svay Rieng have been ordered to halt all operations. Officials said the suspensions were issued on October 16 amid “suspicions of secretly committing online scams.”

In Preah Sihanouk, the action targets casinos connected to the Jin Bei Group, a name that has appeared repeatedly in foreign investigative reports. The affected properties include the Jin Bei Group casino run by Jin Bei Group Co. Ltd.; the Jin Bei casino licensed to Cambodian Heng Sin Real Estate Co. Ltd.; G.C. Casino operated by G.C. Media Co. Ltd.; and the Jin Bei 4 Casino, also under G.C. Media Co. Ltd. Police sealed the premises on November 2.

The Jin Bei Group has drawn scrutiny in recent months for alleged links to illicit online operations. Some international outlets have claimed that Cambodia’s Minister of Interior Sar Sokha is a shareholder in the group, an allegation that has been categorically denied.

The CGMC’s action came just one day after a joint operation by the commission and the Cambodian Commission for Combating Technology Crimes (CCTC) at the Silver Star Casino in Bavet town, Svay Rieng province. Officers raided the site following intelligence that an online scam network was being run from within the property.

Authorities detained 23 foreign nationals in the raid. Among them were two Taiwanese and one Malaysian citizen, described as the ringleaders. The others, six Sri Lankans, seven Pakistanis, two Filipinos, two Nepalese, one Indian, one Nigerian, and one Algerian, were identified as victims of the operation.

“After obtaining sufficient evidence, the CGMC has suspended the license of Silver Star Casino, preventing it from continuing its business operations,” the CCTC said. “Authorities sent the three alleged masterminds to the Svay Rieng Provincial Court to face legal proceedings and punishment, according to Cambodian law.”

The 20 remaining individuals have been placed under the custody of the General Department of Immigration, which is arranging their deportation. Officials say the suspensions mark part of an ongoing effort to clean up Cambodia’s casino industry, which has expanded rapidly over the past decade but has also drawn repeated allegations of money laundering and online fraud.