In recent operations, authorities in Sihanoukville conducted two raids on illegal online gambling sites, resulting in the apprehension of a total of 195 illegal foreigners who will now face deportation from Cambodia, the Khmer Times reported.

Cambodia’s Sihanoukville Administration showed confidence in overcoming the odds, as recently it is working on completing the unfinished buildings in town, largely left behind by foreign investors.

Cambodia is seeing rising tourism numbers and the casino floors in Sihanoukville are about 50 percent full, says Gary Tham, owner of the newly opened Winners Club.

Sihanoukville’s newly opened Winner’s Club is seeking to take advantage of the local expatriate market and provide a lower-key form of entertainment than the city’s glitzier casinos.

Cambodia is set to lift the quarantine requirements for fully-vaccinated tourists visiting Sihanoukville, Koh Rong island in Preah Sihanouk, as well as the Dara Sakor Resort in Koh Kong from the end of November.

Sihanoukville has been identified as a major hub for trafficked Vietnamese workers, lured to migrate to Cambodia with attractive offers, but forced to work long hours and physically assaulted. 

Cambodia's Sihanoukville, home to multiple casinos, remains in the country's Covid yellow zone due to new cases with all large gatherings and gambling strictly prohibited.

The local government in Preah Sihanouk has imposed an overnight curfew, banned alcohol and prohibited gatherings outside of family groups in Sihanoukville due to a rise in Covid cases.

Sihanoukville has imposed a mandatory 14-day quarantine on all passengers arriving by air from the capital and from Siem Reap to curb the spread of Covid.

Malaysia's WA Hospitality is set to open a casino resort in Sihanoukville in the first quarter of next year.