Despite Cambodia's ban on online gambling, the country still faces serious issues, as evidenced by a series of tragic events targeting Cambodians recently, according to the Cambodian government, which calls for intensified efforts to curb the promotion of illegal activities.
Although such activities are not allowed, operators overseas have exploited legal loopholes that do not explicitly prohibit online gambling advertisements.
In Southeast Asia, online gambling, appearing in the form of live casino games, online slot machines, and sports betting, has become a lucrative industry, attracting foreign investors and capital from the region. The industry is reportedly driven mainly by Chinese gamblers, while operators circumvent China's strict gambling ban by setting up businesses in other countries.
Meanwhile, in Cambodia, online gambling flourished between 2016 and 2018, especially in Sihanoukville, as the country's 4D network became more widespread.
This led to a large influx of Chinese citizens into the coastal provinces of Cambodia, which also became centers for online gambling. Unfortunately, this period also saw an increase in gang violence, kidnappings, and modern forms of human trafficking, with people from other countries being lured to Cambodia with false job opportunities and forced into online gambling and scam operations.
Years after the ban was issued, actions against online gambling groups and the arrest and deportation of involved foreigners have increased. The latest news is that last week, 240 Chinese citizens suspected of involvement in cross-border gambling and fraud were deported from Cambodia.
However, online gambling still prevails, and with the reduction of Chinese gamblers, the criminals behind the scenes are now targeting the wallets of Cambodian citizens.
During the peak years a few years ago, Cambodian online gambling groups relied on advertisements with Chinese information to promote gambling, meaning their target was to attract Chinese players.
However, at least in the past two years, Khmer has mainly appeared in online casino advertisements, indicating that operators have shifted their focus to local gamblers.
Cambodian law prohibits its citizens from gambling. Article 5 of the 1996 Law on the Suppression of Gambling stipulates that individuals who operate unauthorized casinos or participate in casino activities are subject to fines. Violators may be fined from 5 million to 20 million riels (approximately $1,225 to $5,000) and face 1 to 5 years of imprisonment. However, online gambling is a relatively private activity, conducted using mobile phones or computers, which means it is almost impossible to enforce this law—not to mention the system might be manipulated, causing people to lose money.
At the same time, the 2019 directive banning online gambling did not impose any bans on promoting such activities.
An investigation by the Khmer Times found that there are three main ways in which online gambling drives such advertising exposure.
The first, which seems to be the most focused on, is celebrity brand promotion. Through this channel, online gambling groups pay fees to local celebrities (from singers and comedians to athletes) who have hundreds of thousands of followers and fans, to endorse their gambling platforms.
This method usually involves celebrities appearing in promotional videos singing or announcing the benefits of the gambling platform or website, such as "always winning" or "getting more tokens than you pay for."
"An agency contacted me to do this kind of advertising," a netizen who wished to remain anonymous told the Khmer Times. "I got $2,000 for it, which is a lot of money compared to what I earn from posting content online."
"At the time, I didn't think there was anything wrong with it because everyone was doing it."
Another way to showcase online gambling to Cambodian audiences is through social media, especially Facebook and TikTok, which are the most popular platforms in Cambodia. There are hundreds (even thousands) of pages on these platforms dedicated to online gambling, visible to users of all ages through paid advertising services.
Despite repeated announcements by the authorities to shut down these websites, these pages and accounts continue to appear, with advertisements promising that those who register to play games will never lose money.
Shockingly, pornographic content is another channel used to promote online gambling. This usually involves the use of extreme content, such as child pornography and secretly filmed or leaked videos of Cambodian women, which are illegal in themselves.
Advertisers post such inappropriate content on private Telegram groups or channels offering free membership or subscriptions. There are tens of thousands of users in the groups or channels, and advertisers post their ads in the groups. In another case, administrators ask users to create or subscribe to online gambling services in exchange for access to these adult groups.
Khmer Times reporters found that there are no fewer than 1,000 groups and channels on Telegram alone.
For a while, the social impact of online gambling did not receive much attention until two tragic incidents occurred in November 2024.
On November 21, authorities announced the discovery of the body of Nob Tola, a famous football player and former member of the Cambodian under-16, under-19 (2013), and under-22 national teams. Tola is believed to have jumped off a bridge to commit suicide a few days earlier.
Shortly before his death, Tola posted a heartbreaking message on social media, writing, "I regret everything I've done. I can't change, and I've lost my reputation and means of livelihood. My reputation and family. Now I say goodbye to you all and apologize to my wife, friends, and children."
Sources later revealed that mounting gambling debts might have been the reason for Tola's tragic decision.
A few days later, on November 25, another gambling tragedy occurred, taking the lives of a family in Kandal province. Police said that at the time, a primary school teacher, driven to despair by mounting debts, killed his family and then himself.
34-year-old Vuth Sokchan, the principal of Siri Chey Mongkul Primary School, lived in Prey Pdao village with his wife (also 34 years old) and their two sons, aged 12 and 10, who were primary school students at the same school.
A preliminary police report indicated that the motive for the murder was the increasing losses caused by online gambling. Major Meas Sareth, deputy chief of the Muk Kampoul District Police, speculated that Sokchan killed his family and committed suicide to end his plight because the situation could not be resolved.
Social analyst Tong Soprach suggested that the government restrict all forms of online gambling advertising.
"I believe everyone can now feel and see the social impact of illegal gambling in Cambodia," he said. "It brings chaos and violence to families and society as a whole."
These two cases sparked criticism from local netizens, apparently prompting the authorities to take some action. Just this Wednesday, the Ministry of Interior issued a directive to immediately stop all forms of illegal gambling promotion in response to people's concerns about its proliferation on social media and other platforms. The department reported observing widespread dissemination of images, videos, and content promoting gambling activities, both face-to-face and online, aimed at enticing citizens to participate.
To address this issue, the department called on local administrative authorities across Cambodia to strengthen regulatory efforts. The officials' task is to identify and prevent the spread of gambling-related materials within their jurisdiction, while educating the public about the negative effects of gambling. The government emphasized the importance of community involvement in combating illegal gambling, which is part of its "Safe Villages and Communes" program, aimed at promoting community safety and order.
The Ministry of Interior emphasized that individuals who continue to create, promote, or share illegal gambling content will face strict legal consequences. By strengthening these measures, the government aims to curb the impact of gambling on society and ensure a safer environment for all citizens.
Soprach added that combating online gambling is not difficult for the government, but what is more important is whether the authorities are willing to complete this task.
"We can see that the masterminds behind illegal online gambling are foreigners, which means this is more about how the authorities manage foreigners," he said. "I believe the police can track them down through undercover operations and other means."
