Cambodia Casinos, Notorious for Human Rights Abuses, Have Close Ties to Government
Posted on: April 6, 2026, 01:40h.
Last updated on: April 6, 2026, 01:40h.
- Cambodian casinos received new licenses in December despite allegations of human rights abuses
- Cambodian scam centers and casinos have been linked to the state government
The government is doing little to nothing in Cambodia to curtail widespread allegations of human rights abuses at casinos and telephone and online scam centers. That’s according to a new report from Amnesty International, a nonprofit human rights organization headquartered in London.
As Cambodia’s territorial conflict with Thailand rages on, where reportedly enslaved workers inside casinos and scam centers have been caught in the border conflict, the single-party state government has embraced its gaming operators. Amnesty International reports that Cambodia’s Commercial Gambling Management Commission in December issued fresh gaming licenses to numerous casinos alleged to be enslaving trafficked persons and committing numerous human rights abuses.
“This research establishes a clear link between Cambodia’s licensed casinos and its scamming compounds. At a time when the government says it is dismantling the scamming industry, the evidence shows it is simultaneously recognizing the plans for casino properties where abusive scamming compounds are run,” said Montse Ferrer, a co-regional director and manager of the Corporate Crimes Project at Amnesty International.
This contradiction raises urgent questions about whether Cambodian regulators are legitimizing companies linked to grave abuses. The authorities must explain why casinos with documented links to trafficking and torture continue to receive official approval. Every day that these casinos remain licensed is another day in which people on casino property are at risk of human rights abuse,” Ferrer added.
Most Cambodian casinos are located near the Thai border, as they prey on gamblers from Thailand where most forms of gambling are prohibited.
Government Ties
Casinos and scam compounds in Cambodia have long been accused of violating various human rights, but the new findings from Amnesty International highlight cohesion between the facilities and the Cambodian People’s Party.
Numerous survivors of the enslavements have reported being confined and tortured in the scamming compounds. Casino workers and scammers who do not obey orders are threatened with electric shock batons and other forms of torture.
“The guards would enter the room and trigger the shock batons. It made a terrible sound. The children in the room were crying,” said one survivor.
Many of the survivors said they were trafficked to Cambodia as children.
Casino Abuses
Amnesty International has identified numerous casinos supposedly engaged in human rights abuses. They include Casino Kyom, Marian International, Peak Casino, Majestic Hotel & Casino, the Long Feng Xuan Casino, Huang International, and Golden Sea Casino.
The Cambodian government must immediately suspend the gambling licenses of these casinos and conduct a full, independent and transparent investigation into the violations documented at these sites. It should also investigate all those suspected of individual responsibility for crimes under international law or other gross human rights violations, including the owners, financiers and operators of these casinos.”
Cambodia benefits from casinos and scam centers in a variety of ways. Along with tax revenue, the businesses bring the country increased economic activity through inflows of capital and property leasing. The operations are also linked to political corruption.
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