(AsiaGameHub) – Following a raid by Cambodian police on Gang Dao Casino in Preah Sihanouk, local authorities discovered that the venue was being operated as an illegal online scamming ring. Law enforcement officials seized nearly 500 computers and over 1,000 mobile phones, which were allegedly used for the fraudulent scheme.
According to news reports from the Cambodia Commercial Gambling Management Commission, law enforcement arrested 108 people during the April 5 raid, and the building was subsequently closed and sealed off.
Across Southeast Asia, Cambodia has gained widespread recognition as a hub for internet scams. The country competes with both Myanmar and Laos for this dubious distinction, a label that has earned Cambodia the nickname “Scambodia.” The April 5 closure of Gang Dao Casino comes as the government has recently ramped up its efforts to eradicate internet scam operations from the nation. It is estimated that illegal internet scam activities generated $12.5 billion in criminal revenue in Cambodia during 2024.
Some people searching for clerical or computer-related jobs become ensnared in prohibited online scam operations once they arrive at the casino to begin work. If workers fail to meet their financial targets, they are often threatened with physical violence to coerce them into committing illegal acts.
A BBC report dated April 6 noted that at the casino, which has since been shut down, any employee who failed to perform at a high enough standard would be subjected to physical punishment and would receive “at least 10 strokes” with a cane.
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