Slot machine parlors in Phnom Penh (Photo: Phnom Penh Post)19 Feb 2009
By Ky Soklim Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
Click here to read the article in French
On the side of the conference on the modernization of the banking system which was held on Thursday 19 Feb in Phnom Penh, Chea Peng Cheang, the state secretary to the ministry of Economy and Finance, announced that the government collects some $20 million from various gambling taxes.
This year, even though the government plans to see an increase of 12.5% from the gambling tax collection, this increase could be affected by the economic crisis. “The number of gamblers could decrease, they will gamble a smaller amount of money,” he said.
Gambling parlors (casinos, lottery sales, sport betting, etc…) are growing like mushrooms in the kingdom in the past few years. The majority of the casinos are located along the Thai and Vietnamese borders. Betting parlors which were originally found in Phnom Penh mainly, are now growing in the provinces.
The opposition party regularly scolds the government for authorizing such activities which ruin the society and pushing people to robbery and violence. Chea Peng Cheang said that he prefers legal gambling to illegal gambling which was prevalent in the past: “I am reflecting on the critics, but I think that, now, gambling is correctly controlled by the authorities. The situation is not that bad,” Chea Peng Cheang defended.
This year, even though the government plans to see an increase of 12.5% from the gambling tax collection, this increase could be affected by the economic crisis. “The number of gamblers could decrease, they will gamble a smaller amount of money,” he said.
Gambling parlors (casinos, lottery sales, sport betting, etc…) are growing like mushrooms in the kingdom in the past few years. The majority of the casinos are located along the Thai and Vietnamese borders. Betting parlors which were originally found in Phnom Penh mainly, are now growing in the provinces.
The opposition party regularly scolds the government for authorizing such activities which ruin the society and pushing people to robbery and violence. Chea Peng Cheang said that he prefers legal gambling to illegal gambling which was prevalent in the past: “I am reflecting on the critics, but I think that, now, gambling is correctly controlled by the authorities. The situation is not that bad,” Chea Peng Cheang defended.
