Authorities in Cambodia have reportedly announced that the Asian nation’s estate of land-based casinos has largely been abiding by new legislation that implemented a total ban on the provision of online gambling.

According to reports from Inside Asian Gaming and CalvinAyre.com, the administration of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen ratified a measure in August that saw the country of some 15 million people cease issuing or renewing online gambling licenses. This legislation purportedly also sought to assuage protests from China concerning crime and public security by prohibiting such venues from offering their services over the Internet after a January 1 deadline.

Examination outcome:

Inside Asian Gaming cited Ros Phearun, Deputy Director-General for the Cambodian Finance Ministry’s financial industry department, as revealing that a recent inspection campaign had determined that some 91 local online gambling operations had shut down since the start of the year with the nation now having 118 licensed land-based casinos. The official purportedly moreover explained that these checks are set to continue into the future to ensure venues do not restart such virtual businesses once the media focus shifts.

Diminishing determination:

CalvinAyre.com reported that Cambodia had hosted 141 land-based casinos before the implementation of the online gambling ban with around 70 of these located in Sihanoukville Province. However, it cited provincial official Yov Khemara as detailing that some 22 venues were now closed while a further 33 had temporarily suspended operations.

Reportedly read a statement from Phearun…

“I can say that all arcade gambling operations in the kingdom completely ceased after the ban. After ceasing online gambling, some casinos are still operating one or two months to see if they can make earnings but we believe more casinos will cease their business.”

Employment exodus:

Phearun is reported to have proclaimed that the recent closures in Sihanoukville Province had left approximately 7,700 people without a job although he is said to have expressed optimism regarding whether these workers will now be able to find suitable future employment.

The minister reportedly declared…

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