Cambodia's gambling industry achieved a "good start" in 2025. According to the latest first-quarter budget execution report released by the Ministry of Finance, in the first three months of this year, tax revenue from casinos and gambling concessions reached 156 billion riels (approximately $39 million), a significant increase of 55.2% year-on-year.
This growth rate not only sets a new high in recent years but also means that the first quarter has already completed 71.9% of the annual fiscal target, significantly higher than the 56.2% of the same period last year.
Ros Phearun, Secretary-General of the Cambodian Commercial Gambling Management Committee, told the media that the revenue growth in the gambling industry is stable and controllable.
The significant rise this quarter is mainly attributed to two factors: one is that NagaWorld has completed debt repayment; the other is that several casinos have paid back previously owed taxes after the annual audit.
The Ministry of Finance expects that by the end of 2025, gambling industry revenue is expected to reach 98.9% of the annual target. However, the suspension of licenses for some companies may slow down the industry's annual growth rate to some extent.
Industry insiders believe that the gambling industry has always been an important pillar of Cambodia's finances, and the rapid growth in tax revenue may indicate that the industry is emerging from a downturn and entering a new development cycle.
