Cambodia regulator to have onsite office at licensed casinos: law firm

As of January, there were 10 licensed casinos identified by CGMC, the law firm noted in the memo.

The casino at NagaWorld – a resort complex with a monopoly licence for the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh, and which is controlled by Hong Kong-listed NagaCorp Ltd – was among the 10 licensed sites, according to the law firm. So is DNA Star Vegas, a casino on Cambodia’s border with Thailand at Poipet, run by Australia-listed Donaco International Ltd.

GGRAsia has approached the commission, and separately NagaCorp, asking for their comment on the matter.

The law firm’s commentary is by managing partner Heng Chhay, and deputy managing partner Tiv Sophonnora. It cited a notification issued by the Cambodia casino regulator on December 17, saying there would be an “onsite CGMC office” at each licensed venue, to “reinforce the efficiency of the administrative process” for casino-operations supervision.

The regulator’s update said such offices would help operators in meeting their compliance obligations, according to the law practice. Some form of “online supervision” might be introduced in the near future, added the regulator, as cited by the law firm.

Lawyer Tiv Sophonnora told GGRAsia in response to a written enquiry that the regulator’s notification “does not provide for any details yet as to how such an onsite office is to be set up,” nor what it “is going to look like in terms of size, number of officials, etc”.

The lawyer added: “We believe… CGMC would like to reserve flexibility to work together with the targeted casinos on a case-by-case basis or the CGMC may issue follow-up regulation in the future to determine” further details.

The regulator’s notification didn’t specify what powers – if any –the regulator could use to ensure cooperation from casinos in setting up an onsite regulatory office.

Cambodia’s Law on Management of Commercial Gaming was promulgated in November 2020 after being ratified a month earlier by the country’s National Assembly.

Under the statute, CGMC has the legal power to govern commercial gaming industry in the country. The body has the power to conduct investigations, including onsite inspections of gaming premises, said Rajah & Tann Sok & Heng in its follow-up comments to GGRAsia.