Cambodia revokes licences of 18 casinos linked to Prince Group

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — 8 November 2026, Cambodia has revoked the operating licences of 18 casinos linked to Prince Holding Group, as part of an ongoing crackdown on online scam networks, while freezing more than US$300 million (approximately 10.06 billion baht) in bank accounts and coordinating investigations with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Interpol.

The Straits Times reported on 8 November 2026 that Cambodian authorities had stepped up efforts to dismantle scam operations and pursue individuals and businesses connected to the Prince Group network.

Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith, head of the Secretariat of the Cambodian Committee for Countering Online Scams (CCOS), announced the measures during a press briefing attended by foreign diplomats and international organisations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

Cambodia also reported freezing bank accounts worth more than US$300 million, along with seizing movable and immovable assets worth hundreds of millions of dollars as part of its broader anti-fraud campaign.

Sinarith said the government was responding to information about US sanctions targeting individuals and entities associated with the Prince Group network.

“Cambodia is actively conducting in-depth investigations and building close cooperation with international law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and Interpol, to dismantle these transnational criminal networks completely,” he said.

According to the statement, Cambodia had revoked the operating licences of 18 casinos linked to Prince Group, founded by Chen Zhi, a Chinese-born businessman holding British and Cambodian citizenship, and Li Guang, over the past year.

Authorities had also suspended the licences of another 10 casinos.

The measures form part of efforts to prosecute the leaders of scam operations and cut off money-laundering channels supporting their activities.

The Cambodian government said investigations were focusing on the financial structures behind online fraud, alongside raids and criminal prosecutions. Authorities are also pursuing suspected high-level scam operators and assets believed to be connected to illegal activities.

Between 1 July 2025 and 31 October 2026, authorities conducted operations at 972 suspected locations nationwide and prepared 568 cases for legal proceedings.

During the same period, 5,032 suspects were charged and detained pending trial.

Authorities also repatriated 23,760 foreign nationals from 38 nationalities to their respective countries.