Cambodia has a unique and complicated way of regulating gambling. Even though there is a national legislation against gambling for its own inhabitants, the country’s booming casino business mostly serves foreigners. This makes for an interesting dual system where citizenship, not geography, sets the terms of the game. For tourists, knowing these specific rules is important for having a fun and legal time at a Cambodian casino.
The Rules for Tourists Who Want to Gamble in Cambodia
Only Foreigners Allowed
The most essential guideline for tourists who want to gamble in Cambodia is that only foreigners can do so.
Cambodian citizens are not allowed to bet in casinos because of the Law on the Management of Commercial Gambling. To enforce this rule, casinos ask everyone who comes in to display a valid foreign passport. Anyone who wants to gamble has to know this important piece of information. Also, online gambling has been against the law since 2020. This prohibition is applied for both people who live in and out of the nation. To keep under the rules, visitors must only place bets at a licensed casino’s physical location.
Location and Licensing
The government has strict rules over casinos in Cambodia, and they are mostly focused on certain areas.
The Commercial Gambling Management Commission is in charge of the structured licensing framework that the 2020 law set up. This group is in charge of making sure that all casino operations follow the rules. One important thing about this regulation is that it divides the country into separate gambling zones. These designated areas allow the government control the industry and bring in customers from other countries while keeping it apart from the people who live there.
Conclusion
Cambodia’s casino rules are meant to safeguard its own residents from the social effects of gambling while still serving a foreign market. Tourists can enjoy the thrill of Cambodian casinos in a responsible way and within the limits of the country’s own laws by knowing the foreigner-only regulation that applies to the online gambling ban and going to licensed venues.