Authorities tighten noose around illegal gambling
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Crackdown on illegal gambling should begin at the local level, according to the Cambodian Gambling Regulatory Committee (CEC). In Cambodia, gambling is allowed only for foreigners, and at licensed casinos.
Ros Phearun, secretary general of Cambodian Gambling Management Committee of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, told local authorities that they have the right to shut down the illegal gambling units at cafes and shops as the committee does not issue licence to run them.
As per Cambodian law, the citizens are not allowed to run gambling centres and they are also banned from all sorts of gambling, including online gambling.
Phearun added that the gambling management committee is identifying different kinds of illegal games to make it easier for relevant ministries and local authorities to nip it in the bud.
He noted that only 60 casinos are provided with gambling licences out of 140 casinos operating in
the country.
General Khieu Sopheak, Spokesman of Ministry of Interior, said yesterday that the authorities had cooperated with local people several times to arrest and educate the perpetrators.
Yet, online cockfighting, playing cards, Cambodian and Vietnamese lotteries are rampant everywhere.
“I think most of the illegal gambling takes place at the commune level, and if the people cooperate with the authorities to report and provide information on the location of the illegal gambling, we can shut them,” he said.
Last Thursday, Minister of Interior Sar Kheng instructed law enforcement teams to crack down on theft, robbery, illegal gambling, and other crimes to ensure security.
He said the three main goals that the authorities should focus on are rescuing victims, prosecuting perpetrators or traffickers, and third, cracking down on illegal gambling, especially online.
People are also increasingly aware of the dangers of gambling.
Ham Chhorvy, a resident of Kampong Speu province, urged the provincial administration to eliminate all forms of gambling as many people are drowning in debts, besides crimes are also on the rise.
“I am very worried about my personal safety because there is a cafe next to my house and there are a lot of players,” he said.
Tep Ratha, 52, a resident of Phnom Penh, said that online gambling is widespread and cafes are full of players from morning to evening, majority of them are motorbike taxi drivers.
