Cambodia revokes 18 Prince Group casino licences
Cambodia has intensified its campaign against suspected online scam networks, reporting the revocation of 18 casino operating licences linked to the Prince Group network and the suspension of another 10 establishments over the past year.
The measures form part of a wider government effort to dismantle criminal operations, investigate financial connections and strengthen enforcement against businesses allegedly used to facilitate online fraud.
Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith, head of the Secretariat of the Commission for Combating Online Scams (CCOS), disclosed the latest figures during a November 6 briefing for foreign diplomats and international organisations in Phnom Penh.
The announcement signals continued regulatory pressure on casino businesses suspected of having connections to illegal online activities. It also highlights the government's intention to pursue the financial structures supporting suspected criminal networks.
Prince Group casino licences face revocation
According to the government briefing, authorities withdrew 18 casino licences associated with the network linked to Prince Group founder Chen Zhi and Li Kuong. Another 10 casino licences were suspended as investigations continued.
The enforcement measures represent an expansion of action previously disclosed in September, when Cambodian authorities announced the revocation of 18 casino licences identified as involved in online scam activities and the suspension of nine additional licences.
The latest figures indicate that investigations and regulatory action have continued, although the distinction between revoked and suspended licences remains important. Revocation removes an establishment's operating authorisation, while suspension prevents operations pending further regulatory or investigative decisions.
Authorities have connected certain casino premises in Sihanoukville with suspected online fraud activities. Investigations are also examining whether gambling businesses and associated commercial structures were used to conceal or support illegal operations.
The case places additional scrutiny on the relationship between the casino sector, corporate ownership structures and financial transactions potentially connected to organised online fraud.
Cambodia expands nationwide enforcement
The action against Prince Group-linked casinos is part of a broader nationwide campaign.
Between July 1, 2025, and October 31, 2026, Cambodian authorities conducted enforcement operations at 972 locations suspected of involvement in online scam activities.
During the same period, officials prepared 568 cases for court proceedings and reported that 5,032 suspects had been indicted and placed in pretrial detention.
Authorities also repatriated 23,760 foreign nationals representing 38 nationalities.
These figures demonstrate the scale of the campaign, which extends beyond casino licensing into suspected scam compounds, criminal investigations and international cooperation.
The government has also reported freezing more than US$300 million in bank accounts. In addition, movable and immovable assets worth hundreds of millions of dollars have been targeted through the wider enforcement effort.
Importantly, the reported financial figures cover the nationwide anti-scam campaign. They should not be interpreted as assets frozen exclusively in connection with Prince Group.
The financial investigations are intended to identify suspected proceeds of crime, trace concealed assets and disrupt the mechanisms used to move funds between businesses and jurisdictions.
International cooperation and financial investigations
Cambodia is also increasing cooperation with international law enforcement agencies as it pursues suspected transnational criminal networks.
Sinarith said the government was working with organisations including the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Interpol to investigate suspected criminal operations and strengthen cross-border enforcement.
The international dimension is significant because online scam networks can involve multiple jurisdictions, corporate entities and financial channels. Investigators may therefore need information-sharing arrangements and coordinated legal action to identify suspects and trace assets.
The latest briefing followed additional US sanctions announced on November 5 against four individuals and 41 entities associated with Prince Group.
US authorities accused the network of involvement in cyber-enabled fraud, money laundering and human trafficking. These are allegations made by US authorities and should be distinguished from findings established through final judicial proceedings.
The additional sanctions add to the international pressure surrounding the network and increase attention on businesses and individuals potentially connected to its operations.
Protecting trafficked workers remains a priority
Alongside casino enforcement and financial investigations, Cambodia has emphasised the need to identify and protect foreign nationals deceived or trafficked into scam compounds.
Authorities said they were working to establish which individuals had been forced or misled into participating in illegal operations and to facilitate their safe return to their home countries.
Sinarith also distinguished trafficking victims from individuals who knowingly participated in illegal activities for financial gain. Those who voluntarily engaged in criminal operations would face legal consequences, according to the government.
This distinction is important for enforcement agencies because scam compounds can involve both organised criminal operators and people recruited under deceptive circumstances or subjected to coercion.
The reported repatriation of 23,760 foreign nationals illustrates the humanitarian dimension of the campaign, although repatriation figures alone do not establish how many individuals were confirmed trafficking victims.
Regulatory pressure on Cambodia's casino industry
The latest enforcement measures underline the growing regulatory risks facing casino operators in Cambodia.
Businesses suspected of facilitating unauthorised online gambling or providing infrastructure for scam operations face potential licence suspension, revocation, asset restrictions and criminal investigations.
For legitimate operators, the campaign reinforces the importance of maintaining transparent ownership arrangements, complying with licensing conditions and ensuring that casino premises are not used for prohibited activities.
The authorities have also indicated that investigations will continue through cooperation between anti-scam officials, gambling regulators, financial investigators and law enforcement agencies.
The ultimate impact on Cambodia's casino industry will depend on how consistently these measures are implemented and whether investigations result in further prosecutions and legally supported asset confiscations.
For now, the revocation of 18 licences and suspension of another 10 mark a substantial regulatory intervention. The wider campaign also demonstrates that Cambodia is increasingly targeting the financial and commercial infrastructure suspected of supporting online fraud, rather than limiting enforcement to individual scam locations.
Further developments will depend on the progress of ongoing investigations, judicial decisions and cooperation with international authorities.
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