Cambodia’s communications watchdog has blocked 79 websites it says were offering illegal online gambling services in Cambodia.
In a statement, the Telecommunications Regulator of Cambodia said it had worked with the National Police General Commission of the Ministry of Interior to block the sites, which contravene the nation’s Royal Government Directive No. 07. August 18, 2019 on “strengthening the management of all kinds and all aspects of gambling through electronic machine business via internet inside and outside of the Kingdom of Cambodia.”
Such actions, it added, “affect security and public order in society.”
The public order follows a directive issued by Prime Minister Hun Sen in August 2019 effectively banning online gambling operations within Cambodia from 1 January 2020. Until then, online gaming licenses were often issued alongside land-based casino licenses, however the directive put a sudden halt to the issue of new licensed while existing licenses were not renewed.
“Some foreigners have used this form of gambling to cheat victims inside and outside the country,” the Prime Minister said at the time. “The Royal Government has decided to stop issuing licenses for such operations within and from outside the Kingdom with immediate effect.”
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