Amnesty International's latest report points out that the Cambodian government has recently issued licenses to "dozens of casinos," which are allegedly directly related to online scam dens. Despite the Cambodian authorities' high-profile claims of cracking down on cybercrime, the human rights organization found that at least 12 licensed casinos have been involved in severe human rights violations such as torture, forced labor, child labor, and human trafficking. The report also names three casinos owned by the suspected cybercrime boss Kok An, who is described by the media as the "gang partner" of former Prime Minister Hun Sen. In plain terms, these casinos hold legal licenses but engage in shady activities.
Contradictions between government crackdowns and report allegations
Since 2025, Cambodia has claimed to have arrested thousands in its crackdown on cybercrime, including the so-called "pig butchering" scams. In January and February of this year, Cambodia reportedly shut down 190 scam centers nationwide, including 44 casinos suspected of "using technological systems for fraudulent activities," and also revoked the licenses of four casinos related to Prince Group Holdings. This group is said to operate one of the world's largest online scam enterprises, with daily revenues once reaching $30 million. In January, Cambodian law enforcement arrested the company's boss, Chen Zhi, and deported him to China to face charges of fraud, money laundering, and human trafficking. The Cambodian Commercial Gambling Management Commission stated that these law enforcement actions demonstrate its "commitment to enhanced supervision and ensuring legal operations."
However, Amnesty International's report questions this narrative. The organization's regional director, Montse Ferrer, stated that the research "establishes a clear link between licensed casinos in Cambodia and scam dens." He pointed out that while the government claims to be destroying the scam industry, evidence shows that it is still approving casino projects where abuses occur.
Involved casino distribution and key figures
The report cites official license documents showing that these casinos are located in cities like Sihanoukville and Poipet on the border, mainly serving Thai customers. The casino owners directly control at least 12 locations, where investigators have recorded human rights abuses. The report states, "These findings corroborate the testimonies of scam den survivors, who described their experiences of being restricted and abused within the casino premises." Notably, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime recently praised Cambodia for stepping up its fight against online fraud, but Amnesty International believes this is far from sufficient. Ferrer emphasized: "If the government truly wants to end this slave-driven industry, it must investigate all scam dens across the country." For more updates on Southeast Asia's security and compliance dynamics, continue to follow PASA's official website.
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