The Finance Ministry yesterday reported the Kingdom has successfully shuttered all registered online and arcade gambling operations in 91 casinos.

Prime Minister Hun Sen issued a directive on August 18, banning all online and arcade gambling in the Kingdom by the end of 2019 because some licensed online gambling operations rigged their games and threatened those who are not able to repay gambling debts.

A joint committee composed of Finance and Interior Ministry officials, National Police and National Military police officers began inspecting all casinos operating online gambling in the Kingdom since January 1 when the ban came into effect.

Ros Phearun, deputy director-general of the ministry’s financial industry department, yesterday said 91 casinos which operated online and arcade gambling ceased their operations.

Mr Phearun said authorities will continue monitoring all casinos if they restart operating online gambling.

“I can say that all arcade gambling operations in the Kingdom completely ceased after the ban,” he said. “After ceasing online gambling, some casinos are still operating one or two months to see if they can make earnings.”

“We believe that more casinos will cease their businesses,” he added, noting there are now 118 licensed casinos in the Kingdom, none of which runs online and arcade gambling.

Mr Phearun said most of the casinos in Preah Sihanouk province’s Sihanoukville ran online gambling before the ban.

He said that despite casino closures, it will not seriously impact the Kingdom’s economy and employment.

He said laid-off casino workers can land other jobs, especially in the garment and textile industry.

Yov Khemara, director of the provincial labour department, said last week that banning of online and arcade gambling left more than 7,700 people unemployed after 33 casinos suspended all operations, while 23 others completely shut down.

However, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Preah Sihanouk previously said 40 of its companies and factories promised to hire laid-off workers.

Preah Sihanouk Provincial Hall spokesman Kheang Phearom yesterday said provincial authorities kept inspecting casinos.

Mr Phearom said that laid-off workers will receive their pays.

“For the workers affected by the ban, our provincial authority, especially the provincial labour department is coordinating with companies to provide them last salaries or other benefits to them.”

“We think that many jobs are available in our province. We do not only depend on casinos,” he said. “We do have special economic zones where many workers are recruited and other institutions also hire them.”

Khun Tharo, a programme manager for Alliance of Labour and Human Rights, yesterday welcomed the government’s online gambling ban.

“I support the government for banning online gambling because it will help reduce crimes,” Mr Tharo said. “Many countries ban online gambling because it causes negative impacts on societies such as kidnapping and money laundering.”

Mr Tharo said that the government should regularly inspect casinos to ensure that online gambling operations are completely ceased.

“It is true the ban affected the workers in the sector, but I encourage them to look for other jobs such as hospitality and tourism services,” he said.

• Tags: Finance Ministry, gambling