Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has prohibited the establishment of new casinos in the Kep and Kampot provinces, with the exception of Bokor Mountain, where existing operations will continue.
Kep and Kampot provinces are located in the country’s southern coastal region, neighboring Sihanoukville.
Cambodia currently hosts 184 licensed gambling establishments nationwide. Manet announced that the ban aims to “diversify investment in hotel and hospitality, tourism, manufacturing, industry, agriculture, trade, and special economic zones.”
According to a report from The Star, the letter from the Prime Minister further stated that the ban aims to strengthen and promote cultural and religious preservation, ensure security, and improve order in tourist destinations.
At present, most of Cambodia’s casinos are situated in coastal areas, totaling 100, including those on Bokor Mountain in Kampot. Additionally, there are 48 casinos in the provinces bordering Thailand, 35 along the border with Vietnam, and one in Phnom Penh, according to data from the Commercial Gambling Management Commission of Cambodia (CGMC).
An article of the Law on Management of Commercial Gaming, enacted in 2020, prohibits gambling establishments in specific geographical locations to protect cultural and religious sites, as well as for other necessary reasons. However, another article provides exceptions for casinos that were built in these areas before the law was passed.
Additionally, the law bans all Cambodians from gambling inside casinos, while all forms of gambling outside of casinos remain illegal.
