An investigation report from Amnesty International has caused a stir in Cambodia. The report indicates that at least 12 legally licensed casinos are directly or indirectly linked to telecommunications fraud parks, involving serious human rights issues such as torture, forced labor, child labor, and human trafficking. In response, the Cambodian government made a rare public response, acknowledging some of the situations mentioned in the report and stating that it will expand its crackdown. This statement appeared at a press conference on April 3, where the Secretary-General of the Cambodian Anti-Telecom Fraud Committee, Chhay Sinareth, frankly stated that the investigation showed "more than ten fraud bases are hidden and operated within the casino premises." Frankly speaking, on one hand, the government promises to eliminate fraud, and on the other hand, the legally approved casinos harbor a dark industry, which is embarrassing for anyone.
12 legal casinos named, fraud parks located within the approved complexes
Amnesty International released the report on March 2, 2026. Researchers, by comparing the official licensing data from the Cambodian Commercial Gambling Management Committee, found that at least 12 legal casinos are associated with fraud parks. Most of these casino projects were approved between the end of 2025 and early 2026, with the relevant documents signed on January 12, 2026—just within the government's previously promised timeframe to clear out the fraud industry by April. By cross-referencing the official planning maps, it was discovered that in 11 cases, the fraud parks are located inside the regulatory-approved casino complexes. In other words, some seemingly regular gambling projects may hide a gray or even black industry chain inside or around them. Montse Ferrer, the regional joint director of Amnesty International, openly stated that this contradictory situation of cracking down while approving is bound to raise doubts from the outside world.
The named casinos exposed, some licenses revoked
The report named a batch of casinos believed to be related to fraudulent activities, including the Crown Casinos in Poipet, Bavet, and Fortune, as well as the Majestic Two and Majestic Hotel & Casino in Sihanoukville. Among them, the former chairman of the Majestic Casino Group, Huang Jimao, was charged with multiple crimes on January 16, 2026, including illegal recruitment of labor, aggravated fraud, organized crime, and money laundering. Other mentioned casinos include the New Venetian, Casino Kyom, Marinan International, Peak Casino, Long Feng Xuan Casino, Dynasty International, and Sands Casino. The report pointed out that these casinos are mostly operated by the same company, and related activities have existed since at least 2022. Amnesty International also added that at least three new locations have been verified since the last report in June 2025, indicating that this is not an isolated phenomenon but a systemic risk.
Cambodian government response: 250 bases closed, 92 casinos regulated
Facing the accusations in the report, the Cambodian officials emphasized that the problem of telecommunications fraud is not only present in casino areas. Chhay Sinareth stated that fraud bases are often distributed in multiple places across the country. He revealed that in the nine months since the nationwide crackdown began in July 2025, the authorities have closed 250 fraud bases and either sealed or regulated 92 casinos. In February of this year, CGMC also revoked the licenses of five well-known casinos, including the Golden Fortune Resort World, Jinbei Group, and Jinbei 4 Casino, which are said to be associated with criminal networks, especially with the "Prince Group" controlled by the suspected fraud leader Chen Zhi.
Data shows that by 2025, Cambodia had a total of 160 legal casinos, 90 of which were located in Sihanoukville, and another 16 operated by Chinese-funded enterprises. The gambling industry remains an important source of income for Cambodia, bringing in about $72 million in revenue in 2025, a 14% increase year-over-year. However, as the complex connections between the fraud industry and the gambling industry continue to be exposed, this once glamorous industry seems to be standing under increasingly strict regulatory spotlights. Amnesty International calls on the Cambodian government to immediately suspend the gambling licenses of the relevant casinos, conduct a comprehensive, independent, and transparent investigation, and hold the casino owners, investors, and operators legally accountable. For more updates on security and compliance in Southeast Asia, continue to follow the PASA official website.
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