Cambodia’s Prime Minister has ordered a nationwide inspection of all gambling venues and has called for an emergency meeting with provincial and capital officials to review the management rules for gambling games throughout the country.
According to the Khmer Times, Dr. Hun Manet, urged governors across the nation to “take immediate action to control gambling at the local level”.
The Prime Minister also ordered governors to report on any gambling venues which were reopening, promising to “take action to revoke the license in the province across the country”.
The official called for projects such as infrastructure and agriculture and not to divert attention to the establishment of gambling venues.
Citizens in Cambodia are prohibited from gambling, but are open to individuals with foreign passports. The most well-known casino in Cambodia is NagaWorld, located in Phnom Penh, the nation’s capital.
Sihanoukville was also formerly a hotspot for casinos, in particular Chinese-backed operations, but has seen a steady decline in recent years, as China’s economy slowed and investors pulled out from casino projects.
However, figures over the Chinese New Year holiday show that some 300,000 tourists visited Sihanoukville during the three-day period, however the majority, at over 280,000, were national tourists.
