Government to Shut Down Gambling

By Soy Sophea

The Phnom Penh Municipality has taken strong measures following the Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s recent orders to shut down Cambo-Six, the popular soccer betting company. He acknowledged that it makes trouble for society.

The betting franchise will no longer have a valid license with the government, Minister Keat Chhon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance said on
February 25, putting an end to its operation and making a major dent in Cambodia’s gambling industry.

“I was in a hurry to void Cambo-Six’s contract,” the Deputy Prime Minister told reporters after a special meeting with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) at the Council for Development of Cambodia (CDC) in Phnom Penh. “Now I’ve decided to shut it down,” he said.

The measure comes on the heels of a speech by the Prime Minister Hun Sen this week ending the company’s contract with the government. The Deputy Prime Minister assured those who lost their jobs as a result of the closure that they would have to find other employment.

The government will now target other forms of gambling in the country, he said, including slot machines, lotteries and other forms of gambling.

Nuth Puthdara, Deputy Governor of Russei Keo district of Phnom Penh, said that two Cambo-six branches in his district had been shut down. He said the crack-down was a response to Hun Sen’s orders.

To date, 29 Cambo-Six branch offices have been closed down in cities and provinces throughout the country, according to Puthdara. He said that in Phnom Penh alone, there are 20 outlets.

“We respect the Prime Minister’s order,” Puthdara told reporters at the scene. “Washington hotel’s slot machine club was also shut down,” he said. “They allowed Cambodian clients in to gamble in violation of our laws.”

Ith Sovannak, a Master’s student of the University of Cambodia (UC), supported closure of the soccer betting company. His close friend is a keen sports gambler and has lost
much money over the years.

“He ruined his family, spending thousands of US dollars, and he was forced to leave his home,” Sovannak said. “Gambling is a serious addiction.”

He believed the actions will reduce street crime and domestic violence. “I don’t want to see anyone become addicted to gambling. The measure has been introduced just in
time,” he added.

Sen Navy, a Phnom Penh resident, welcomed the prime minister’s measure against gambling. Navy’s son is a gambling addict and he too stole her money. She said that it was good to shut down Cambo-Six.

“I lost thousands of dollars, he ruined my family,” the widow said. I hate gambling - it has destroyed my son’s future,” she said.

Chea Pengchheang, Secretary of State for the Ministry of Economy and Finance said the Cambodian government earned about $20 million in gambling taxes in 2008. He was
speaking to reporters on February 19 at the opening of a bank conference in Phnom Penh.