Rightsizing Cambodia’s casino industry post-Covid 19

Through government action and a cultural norm of wearing face masks when ill, Cambodia has seen few get sick during the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the World Health Organization, Cambodia has 275 Covid cases and zero Covid-related deaths as of the last week of September.  However, the pandemic has had an impact on Cambodia’s economy. Cambodia has been one of the fastest growing economies in the world, with annual GDP growth between 6 percent and 7.5 percent since 2009. But the Asian Development Bank estimates GDP will contract 5.5 percent in 2020; reversing gains made in combating poverty.  In 2008, 47.8 percent of the population lived below the poverty line, declining to 12.9 percent by 2018. The Asian Development Bank estimates the contraction will push around 20 percent of the population below the line in 2020. The decision to close the country’s casinos limited Covid’s spread but impacted the economy because tourism...