Amnesty International has accused Cambodia‘s casino regulator of ‘legitimising’ companies that are linked to ‘grave abuses’, including torture, human trafficking and child labour.
The charity has earmarked 12 casinos that the Cambodia Commercial Gambling Management Commission (CGMC) approved plans for between December 2025 and January 2026, explaining that such locations operated as scam compounds where alleged human rights abuses have been documented.
Among those named are three Crown casinos in Poipet, Bavet and Chrey Thum – owned by Anco Brothers Co. Ltd – and the Majestic Two and Majestic Hotel & Casino, whose former Chair, Kuong Li, was charged at the beginning of 2026 with illegal recruitment for exploitation, aggravated fraud and money laundering.
According to the testimony of victims interviewed by Amnesty International, trafficked workers, often lured via social media promising lucrative job opportunities, are held against their will and forced to take part in scams that have defrauded victims of billions of dollars.
Amnesty International used its visits to compounds and testimony from victims to cross-reference official plans submitted to the CGMG. Among the abuses recorded by Amnesty International were workers being subjected to torture and beatings by electric shock batons.
“The authorities must explain why casinos with documented links to trafficking and torture continue to receive official approval,” said Amnesty International’s Co-Regional Director, Montse Ferrer.
“Every day that these casinos remain licensed is another day in which people on casino property are at risk of human rights abuse.
“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 recognising the plans for casino properties where abusive scamming compounds are run.”
Authorities in Cambodia have repeatedly reaffirmed their commitment to addressing scam compounds; Reuters reported that approximately 190 scam centres were closed down in February.
Last week, Cambodia’s Parliament also passed the first cybercrime law dedicated to targeting the perpetrators of online scams. Once implemented, those convicted will face between two to five years in prison and fines up to $125,000. Sentences for scams conducted by gangs or against many victims can extend up to 10 years.
However, Amnesty International has accused the Cambodian government of ‘deliberately ignoring a litany of human rights abuses’ and police forces in the country of collusion with compound bosses to avoid enforcement action.
A report published in June 2025 by the charity identified 53 scamming compounds, and over half were linked to casinos, as gangs often repurpose former casinos and hotels into centres for fraud.
“The Cambodian authorities know what is going on inside scamming compounds, yet they allow it to continue. Our findings reveal a pattern of state failures that have allowed criminality to flourish and raise questions about the government’s motivations,” Ferrer said in June.
She added that the latest revelations demonstrate that the casino sector requires ‘investigation and accountability’, and demanded that the Cambodian government immediately suspend the gambling licences of the casinos identified until a ‘full, independent and transparent investigation into the violations documented at these sites’.
The CGMC and the companies named failed to respond to Amnesty International over the allegations. According to a statement released on 5 April, the CGMC has revoked the licence of the Shang Hai Resort, a casino not named by Amnesty International, after raids found evidence of activity related to scam compounds.
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