Inside Asian Gaming

IAG FEB 2020年2月 亞博匯 13 CAMBODIA SAYS ONLINE GAMING OPERATIONS SHUT DOWN IN 91 CASINOS SINCE TURN OF YEAR 柬埔寨稱自今年初以來已 關閉91家娛樂場的博彩業務 CAMBODIAN authorities have shut down online and arcade gambling operations in 91 casinos since a total ban on the industry came into effect on 1 January 2020, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF). Deputy Director-General of theMEF, Ros Phearun, confirmed that a joint committee comprising MEF officials, National Police and Military Police officers had been inspecting the nation’s casinos since the start of the year, with a majority of Cambodia’s 118 operational casinos having been forced to shut down online operations as a result. “I can say that all arcade gambling operations in the Kingdom completely ceased after the ban,” Phearun said. “After ceasing online gambling, some casinos are still operating one or two months to see if they can make earnings, [but] we believe more casinos will cease their business.” Despite concerns over a loss of jobs in the country’s main casino regions such as Sihanoukville, Phearun added that inspections of Cambodia’s casinos would be ongoing. “We think thatmany jobs are available in our province. We do not only depend on casinos,” he said. “We do have special economic zones where many workers are recruited and other institutions also hire them.” 據 柬埔寨經濟和財政部（MEF）的數據顯示，自該國此前所頒發的 網絡博彩禁令於2020年1月1日生效以來，柬當局已經關閉了91家 娛樂場的網絡博彩業務。 柬經濟和財政部副部長Ros Phearun證實，已經組成一個由 經濟和財政部官員、國家警察和軍警組成的聯合委員會，並自年 初以來一直在巡查該國各娛樂場，令到柬埔寨118家運營中娛樂 場中的大部分都被迫關閉網上賭場。 「可以說，在禁令頒布之後，柬埔寨的所有網絡博彩活動完 全停止。」Phearun 表示。 「在停止網絡博彩之後，一些賭場還堅持了一兩個月看看是 否能盈利，但我們相信，更多的娛樂場將停止他們的業務。」 儘管有人擔心該國一如西哈努克等主要博彩地區失業率會 大增，但Phearun就表示，對柬各賭場的巡查將繼續進行，並補充 稱，公民還有其他的就業機會。 「我們認為本省尚有許多就業機會，我們不僅僅依賴賭場。」 他表示，「我們還有經濟特區，那裏還有許多機構，需要招募許多 工人。」