Amnesty flags Cambodia’s casino licences linked to cyber scam compounds

Cambodian authorities have approved at least a dozen casinos linked to online scam compounds where serious human rights abuses have been reported, Amnesty International said in its latest findings on Thursday.

The human rights group pointed out that government regulators issued licences to casino operators despite evidence linking their properties to sites where people have been trafficked, detained and forced to carry out online fraud.

In addition, official documents from Cambodia’s Commercial Gambling Management Commission show that casino owners control buildings and locations where abuses, including forced labour, torture and child labour, have been documented.

Victims said in interviews that they were held inside or near casino complexes, where they were forced to run scams targeting victims overseas.

The findings add to growing scrutiny of Cambodia’s role in a regional cybercrime industry that has expanded rapidly in recent years.

Previous Amnesty investigations identified more than 50 scam compounds nationwide linked to human trafficking, slavery and other abuses, often operating in repurposed casinos and hotels.

Various human rights groups have long accused Cambodian officials of failing to adequately investigate the compounds or hold those responsible accountable, despite repeated reports of abuse.

Last month, Prime Minister Hun Manet pledged to eradicate scam centres in the country by the end of April.

Phnom Penh has previously denied allegations of complicity and says it is working to crack down on cybercrime networks, including conducting raids and rescuing trafficking victims.

However, Amnesty said approving casino licences linked to alleged abuse sites raises serious questions about regulatory oversight and the government’s commitment to tackling the industry.

The scam operations, which often lure workers with fake job offers, have become a multibillion-dollar industry across Southeast Asia, relying heavily on trafficked labour to carry out online fraud schemes targeting people worldwide.