Despite official claims of a crackdown on cybercrime, a new report from Amnesty International alleges that at least a dozen licensed casinos in Cambodia are directly functioning as scamming compounds.
The report highlights a disturbing nexus between the legal gaming industry and human rights abuses, including forced labor and human trafficking.
The “Gangster Sidekick” Allegations
The investigation specifically names three casinos owned by Kok An, a prominent businessman and politician linked to the Cambodian Senate. These venues, located in border towns like Poipet and the hub of Sihanoukville, allegedly serve as bases for “pig butchering” scams, crypto and romance frauds that defraud victims of billions annually.
Montse Ferrer, Amnesty International Co-Regional Director, challenged the government’s narrative:
“The 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 industry, the evidence shows it is simultaneously recognising the plans for casino properties where abusive compounds are run.”
The $40 Billion Menace
While the UN Office on Drugs and Crime has commended Cambodia for recent arrests and the deportation of figures like Chen Zhi, Amnesty insists that new scam centers are simply replacing the old.
With the global cyberfraud industry now estimated to be worth $40 billion a year, the report calls for a comprehensive investigation into all licensed casino properties to ensure they are not providing cover for “slave-driven” enterprises.
