The Commercial Gambling Management Commission of Cambodia (CGMC) held a meeting to address lottery management and tackle the issue of illegal gambling in Takeo province. CGMC
The Commercial Gambling Management Commission of Cambodia (CGMC), together with the Takeo Provincial Administration, held a meeting to address lottery management and tackle the issue of illegal gambling, focusing on developing effective strategies to combat these activities province-wide.
Approximately 320 individuals attended the gathering, including members of the National Assembly’s (NA) 2nd Commission, representatives from the provincial administration, court, police and military, other relevant officials and lottery operators, as detailed in a CGMC press release.
It outlined three primary objectives for the meeting: to establish a forum for exchanging views between the general secretariat of the gambling commission and the relevant authorities regarding the management of lotteries; to enhance cooperation between these entities for exchanging information and collaboratively managing, monitoring and taking legal action against illegal gambling and unlicensed businesses; and to raise awareness about the Law on Suppression of Gambling to ensure compliance and responsibility among lottery operators and to mitigate the negative impact of illicit gaming.
“After an active discussion and following the instructions of provincial governor Ouch Phea … all relevant authorities committed to taking action against all forms of illegal gambling in their areas,” the CGMC stated.
Am Sam Ath, operations director at rights group LICADHO, expressed support for the government’s efforts to eradicate black market gaming.
He highlighted that the issue has long been a problem, contributing to social insecurity at the grassroots level.
“The introduction of a clear mechanism and the strictest measures to suppress all forms of illegal gambling in Cambodia is crucial. Responsible and fair law enforcement against such offences is important; otherwise, the issue will remain a concern for Cambodia,” he added.
Sam Ath stated that successful action by the authorities would likely lead to a reduction in offences, as gambling is a “major cause of crime” in these communities.
Heng Kimhong, president of the Cambodian Youth Network (CYN), said all forms of online gambling advertising contribute to the proliferation of the activity, necessitating urgent measures to address the issue.
“Gambling brings no benefits to Cambodian society, nor does it contribute economically. Instead, it causes social insecurity and various forms of offences. The issue demands our close attention,” he added.
