Amnesty Report Links Cambodian Casinos to Scam Compounds

(AsiaGameHub) –   Cambodia has for months projected a tougher stance against cybercrime, online scam centers, and illicit activities associated with casinos. However, a new Amnesty International report asserts that the issue persists within the licensed casino industry, involving venues connected to major operators and politically influential individuals.

Good to Know

• Amnesty states casino proprietors oversee at least 12 sites where abuse was recorded by investigators.
• The report identifies three casinos belonging to Kok An.
• Cambodia has combined recent raids and arrests with license measures and enhanced cybercrime enforcement.

Amnesty Report Contradicts Cambodia’s Crackdown Assertions

Amnesty International reports that twelve casinos in Cambodia are directly connected to scam compounds where torture, forced labor, child labor, and human trafficking have occurred. Citing licensing records from the Commercial Gambling Management Commission, the organization stated casino owners have direct control over at least 12 distinct properties where abuse was documented by survivors and investigators.

Three of those casinos are owned by Kok An, a Sino-Cambodian businessperson and politician associated with Anco Brothers Co Ltd. The properties cited in the report are located in casino-dense regions such as Sihanoukville and border towns like Poipet, where gambling has long been fueled by Thai demand and cross-border movement.

This narrative contradicts Cambodia’s repeated assertions that it is dismantling scam compounds and increasing oversight of commercial gambling. Since 2025, officials have announced thousands of arrests related to cybercrime, including “pig butchering” scams—a fraud model based on fabricated romantic or investment relationships that later coerce victims into fake cryptocurrency or high-yield investment schemes.

In January and February, Cambodian authorities reported shutting down 190 scam centers, including 44 casinos allegedly implicated in technology-facilitated fraud. Officials also revoked licenses connected to Prince Group Holdings. Cambodian authorities subsequently arrested Chen Zhi and extradited him to China, where he is charged with offenses including fraud, money laundering, human trafficking, and torture.

The regulator has portrayed these actions as evidence of its intent to “strengthen regulation of the commercial gaming sector … and ensure operations are conducted lawfully”. Amnesty contends the broader record paints a different picture. Montse Ferrer, Co-Regional Director, stated: “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 recognising the plans for casino properties where abusive scamming compounds are run.”

Ferrer added: “If the government is serious about ending this slave-driven industry, it must investigate all scamming compounds in the country.”

The UNODC recently praised Cambodia for intensifying its efforts against cyberfraud, a criminal market valued at roughly $40 billion annually. Nevertheless, the Amnesty report maintains that enforcement actions alone have not severed the connection between casino licenses, scam compounds, and the abuses within them. For Cambodia’s casino sector, this sustains significant regulatory risk, reputational harm, and ongoing questions about enforcement.

FAQ

What did Amnesty International allege about Cambodia casinos?

Amnesty alleged that licensed casino properties in Cambodia were directly connected to at least 12 scam compound locations where investigators documented abuses such as forced labor, trafficking, torture, and child labor.

Who is Kok An in the report?

Kok An is the Sino-Cambodian businessperson and politician identified in the report as the owner of three casinos implicated in the scam compound allegations.

What are pig butchering scams?

Pig butchering scams are online fraud operations where criminals cultivate trust over time, frequently via romantic or investment conversations, before convincing victims to transfer money to fraudulent platforms.

What action has Cambodia taken against scam compounds?

Cambodia reports making thousands of arrests, closing scam centers, revoking certain casino licenses, and broadening cybercrime enforcement. Amnesty argues these measures have not eliminated the fundamental links between licensed casino properties and abuse.