The Cambodian Government has announced that it to stop issuing new online gambling licenses in the country, with immediate effect.
Cambodian Prime Minister, Hun Sen, officially signed a directive on 18 August, which is part of an effort to clamp down on illegal gambling activities in the Asian nation.
It has been said that although many operators had indeed secured licenses in the country, local media have estimated that more than 150 have been awarded.
There were a significant number of illegal operators in whom were active in the country who were targeting Cambodian and foreign players.
In particular the province of Shihanouk was said to have been a preferred base for the illegal operators, and were using iGaming as a way to cheat and extort money from players. This affected the country’s social order, the directive said.
Published by Cambodia Express News, the directive has stated that the government will no longer be issuing or renewing new licenses, nor will it be updating gambling regulations.
Licensees will be allowed to continue to operate until their certification expires, after which they much shut down operations in the country.
The directive also instructs law enforcement officials to intensify their search for unlicensed operators while also cracking down on illegal activity where it was found.
