Cambodian Authorities Suspend Casino Licence Over Cybercrime Links

Cambodian authorities have suspended the operating licence of Silver Star Casino in Svay Rieng province after uncovering its alleged involvement in a major cybercrime network. The decision followed a coordinated raid that resulted in the arrest of 23 foreign nationals accused of participating in technology-based fraud schemes targeting victims abroad.

According to The Khmer Times, the operation was carried out on 1 November 2025 by the Secretariat of the Commission for Combating Cybercrime (CCCC), in cooperation with the Cambodian Commercial Gambling Commission (CCGC), the National Police General Directorate, and the Svay Rieng Provincial Court Prosecutor. Acting on intelligence reports, investigators targeted the casino premises after receiving evidence that it was being used as a hub for online scams.

During the raid, authorities detained 23 individuals of various nationalities, including six Sri Lankans, seven Pakistanis, two Filipinos, two Nepalese, one Indian, one Nigerian, one Algerian, and three suspected ringleaders from China, Taiwan, and Malaysia. Officials seized 24 call centre telephones, 19 passports, and 20 mobile devices believed to have been used in the fraudulent operations. Investigators said the network was conducting coordinated online deception schemes designed to defraud international victims through fake digital platforms.

Following the arrests, the Cambodian Gambling Commission announced the suspension of Silver Star Casino’s licence, citing substantial evidence of its role in facilitating illegal activity. The three alleged organisers have been transferred to the Svay Rieng Provincial Court for prosecution under Cambodian law, while the remaining 20 detainees have been handed over to the General Department of Immigration for deportation procedures.

Authorities emphasised that Cambodia would pursue the strictest legal measures against all individuals and entities linked to technology-based crime. Officials reiterated the government’s ongoing commitment to work with international law enforcement partners to dismantle cybercrime operations operating under the guise of legitimate business activities, particularly within the country’s gaming and entertainment sector.

The latest crackdown reflects Cambodia’s intensified efforts to curb cybercrime networks that have increasingly exploited casinos and commercial establishments as fronts for global online scams.