On October 20, Cambodia’s gaming regulator introduced new guidelines for the operation of commercial casinos, the latest volley in its fight against illicit operations and casino-related crimes such as money laundering and human trafficking.
According to the Phnom Penh Post, the General Secretariat of the Commercial Gambling Management Commission of Cambodia (CGMC) is cracking down on “all illegal gambling activities and gambling dens and [promoting] legal commercial gambling.”
The move follows an order from Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen after a spike in reported cases of kidnapping and human trafficking associated with illegal casino operations.
Going forward, casino owners and operators will be required to either apply for new licenses or renew their current licenses. They must “display the original licenses or the certificate of legality in a visible place in their business locations,” the guidelines state. “In cases where they use a copy of the license or the certificate at another location, it will be deemed fraudulent and they will face legal action.”
Licensed owners must also remit their taxes “on time and in full” or face legal and regulatory repercussions.
As reported by Inside Asian Gaming, under the new rules Cambodia is divided into three gaming zones: Prohibited Zones, where no gaming may take place; Permitted Zones, where operators like NagaCorp currently hold a gaming license; and Favored Zones, such as Sihanouk and Koh Kong, where new integrated resorts can be developed.
The regulations also set a new tax on gross gaming revenues of 4 percent on VIP and 7 percent on mass, IAG reported.
Minister of the Interior Sar Kheng has joined the prime minister in calling for an end to illegal gaming operations and casino-related crimes.
