The Cambodia Gaming Management Committee (CGMC) took action last week, revoking the licenses of four casinos and suspending one, due to their business ties with suspected fraud kingpin Chen Zhi. Chen Zhi's Prince Group is believed to operate one of the world's largest online fraud networks, once earning $30 million a day. Simply put, this move is like pulling out a radish to bring up the mud, following the crime lord to liquidate the casino assets he controls. The sanctioned casinos include Golden Bay, Golden Bay 4, GC Casino in Sihanoukville, and Golden Fortune in Kandal Province. Want to know how Southeast Asia combats transnational gambling crimes? PASA's official website continues to track the forefront of law enforcement.
First, Law Enforcement Actions: Four Licenses Revoked, One Suspended
Last Thursday, CGMC announced sanctions against casinos associated with Chen Zhi:
License Revocation: Golden Bay, Golden Bay 4, GC Casino in Sihanoukville; Golden Fortune in Kandal Province
License Suspension: Khom Casino near the Vietnam border in Kampong Province
Regulatory advisor Chhoeng Chantha stated that these measures will "strengthen the regulation of the commercial gambling industry, ensuring legal operations." According to Kiripost, between January and February, Cambodian law enforcement has shut down 190 scam dens nationwide, including 44 casinos suspected of committing fraud through technical systems.
Second, Chen Zhi: From "Baby-faced Tycoon" to Transnational Fraud Kingpin
Chen Zhi, a Chinese citizen who later moved to Cambodia, covers real estate, finance, consumer services in his Prince Group, and even grants educational scholarships in his name. However, according to a 2025 CNN investigation, behind this group lies a global "pig-butchering" empire, at its peak earning $30 million a day, with wealth spent on yachts, private planes, holiday villas, and even acquiring Picasso paintings at an auction in New York.
Transnational crime expert Jacob Sims described: "Chen Zhi is not a traditional gang leader; he is the glamorous face of a crime economy protected by the state." The scam network reportedly relies on trafficked labor from 66 countries to defraud global consumers.
Third, Determination for Reform: From High-ranking Guest to Deportation
Chen Zhi once had close relations with the Cambodian elite: in 2022, he accompanied former Prime Minister Hun Sen on a visit to Cuba as an advisor; in 2023, he entered the United States with a diplomatic passport. But these influences are now in the past. In January this year, Cambodian law enforcement arrested Chen Zhi and deported him to China, where he will face charges of fraud, money laundering, human trafficking, and torture.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime recently praised Cambodia for intensifying its crackdown on online fraud, a crime that causes about $40 billion in losses annually. However, Montse Ferrer from Amnesty International urges the government to continue its efforts: "If the government truly wants to end this slavery-driven industry, it must investigate all scam dens nationwide."
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