Cambodia shuts down 91 scam-linked casinos in nationwide crackdown

Cambodia has shut down 91 casinos accused of operating as fronts for scam activities as part of a nationwide crackdown.

The move, reported by Chinese state news agency Xinhua, comes amid a broader enforcement effort that has seen authorities raid more than 250 suspected scam hubs over the past nine months. At least 13,039 foreign nationals from 33 countries have been deported for their alleged involvement in fraudulent activities.

The government also said that 241,888 expatriates have voluntarily left Cambodia since mid-January, suggesting a wider exodus linked to the crackdown.

Cambodian officials said dismantling scam syndicates will take time, stressing it is a long-term effort that relies on continued international cooperation and strong local enforcement.

The administration also called on the global community to acknowledge what it described as a decisive shift toward transparency and rule of law. “This crackdown signals the definitive end of the era of impunity for regional cyber-fraudsters,” the statement added.

The announcement follows recent criticism from Amnesty International, which accused Cambodia’s gaming regulator of approving casino operations despite evidence of serious human rights abuses linked to scam compounds.

The organization said its investigation found a direct overlap between formally recognized casino sites and places where victims said they were imprisoned and abused. It identified at least eleven cases in which scam operations were located inside facilities officially recognized as licensed casinos, restaurants, residential buildings, or office buildings.