Hun Sen declares war on gambling: Cambo-Six may be gone soon … but only time will tell?

24 Feb 2009
By Ky Soklim
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
Click here to read the article in French

On Tuesday 24 Feb, during a ceremony to distribute diplomas, PM Hun Sen asked Keat Chhon, the minister of Economy and Finance, to review the contract linking Cambo-Six (sport betting company) to the Cambodian state.

“The minister of Economy must negotiate with Cambo-Six. If possible, let’s shut it down now, but we must first look into the contract,” Hun Sen bluntly said.

For several years now, gambling and betting parlors are growing like mushrooms in Phnom Penh: lottery, slot machines, casinos, sport betting, etc… Everybody gamble, from all social classes and this situation alarms civil society representatives.

Children are spending more on games than on their study, husbands would abandon their wives so that they can go bet on soccer matches, some youths would even commit theft so they can go to casinos! This is a golden moment for the opposition which, on several occasions, asked the government to prohibit gambling … but it fell on deaf ears.

Nevertheless, Hun Sen reacted today. “Cambo-Six mission must come to term. I don’t want to have a headache with gambling,” Hun Sen said while promising to buy back equipments from concession companies. “I think that the president of Cambo-Six understands the situation…” Hun Sen claimed.

Hun Sen is not only attacking Cambo-Six but, he also sent his message to all slot machine operators. Rong Chhun, President of the Cambodia Independent Teachers’ Association (CITA) is rejoicing by the announce made by Hun Sen, but he would still wait to see the outcome of this ban.

In fact, a secretary of state from the ministry of Economy and Finance, indicated that gambling brought in $20 million to the state coffer in 2008.

Economic crisis: Gamblers hit by the blues

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.

Hun Sen tackling slot machines [-Rong Chhun: Hun Sen made a lot of announcements but his subordinates never follow up on his orders]

20 Dec 2008
By Ky Soklim and Romain Roget
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
Click here to read the article in French

During Friday 19 December’s meeting at the Council of Ministers, Hun Sen declared war on slot machine operators who flaunt the law.

Hun Sen asked the national police and the military police to investigate license and to put an end to the operation of slot machines in 15 gambling parlors in the kingdom. According to Hun Sen, these parlors – 12 of which are located in Phnom Penh – do not respect the 4 December directive regulating gambling machines.

He also asked the ministry of Economy and Finance about machines installed in hotels. These slot machines should theoretically be accessible to foreigners only, but Cambodians also have access to them. On this issue, Hun Sen is firm in his demand. He also announced that any parlor where fraud is perpetrated will lose its license within 24 hours.

When contacted by Cambodge Soir Hebdo, Rong Chhun, President of the Cambodia Independent Teachers’ Association (CITA), is skeptical about Hun Sen’s resolve. According to Rong Chhun, Hun Sen made a lot of announcements but his subordinates never follow up on his orders. Rong Chhun also stressed that Hun Sen’s attack should also be aimed at Cambosix (betting parlor). Soccer betting organized by Cambosix creates havocs among poor people and students.

Nevertheless, refuting Rong Chhun’s skepticism, Cambodian news media have announced today that local authorities are already at work and several gambling parlors have been shut down since yesterday.