Cambodian authorities have initiated inspections of select hotels and casinos in border provinces as part of a broader crackdown on online criminal activity believed to be operating within gaming venues. On July 21, a high-level delegation from the Prime Minister’s office conducted a surprise operation at the O’Yadav International Border casino-hotel. Evidence of suspected illicit digital activity was discovered in one of the rooms, which is now under forensic examination.
This operation follows a recent major raid at a nearby casino near the Vietnam border, where 448 individuals were arrested for involvement in cyberfraud. Authorities believe these operations were part of large-scale scam centers—illicit hubs often operating under the guise of hotel-casino businesses.
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The initiative is part of a national campaign aimed at dismantling cybercrime infrastructure embedded in the hospitality and gaming industries. Government officials have stated that their primary objectives include preventing online scams, disinformation campaigns, financial fraud, and digital human trafficking.
While the latest inspection uncovered suspicious materials in only one room, the location’s proximity to an international border raises further concerns about its potential connection to transnational cybercrime networks.
Human rights groups continue to express alarm, noting that many of these so-called scam centers have been linked to trafficking rings, where victims are forced to operate fraudulent online schemes under threats and coercion. Cambodia has recently come under increased international scrutiny for its role as a hotspot for such crimes.
As part of upcoming regulatory reforms in the gaming sector, the Cambodian government is expected to implement tighter oversight of hotel-casino operations, including stronger collaboration with neighboring countries like Thailand and Vietnam.
The government emphasized its commitment to eradicating all forms of digital crime, stating that no gaming venue will serve as a safe haven for cybercriminals moving forward.
