PHNOM PENH, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia will no longer issue licenses to online gambling businesses, and all existing licenses will not be renewed when they are expired, Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said in a directive on Sunday.
"The Royal Government stops granting principles and licenses to operate online gambling businesses inside and outside Cambodia from the day of signature on this directive onwards," he said.
"For valid licenses holders, they will be allowed to operate until the licenses are expired. After that, the Ministry of Economy and Finance will not renew their licenses anymore," he added.
The prime minister also ordered the authorities at all levels to intensify investigations and suppression on all illegal online gambling businesses in order to maintain social security and public order.
The move came after some foreign criminals have run underground online gambling businesses here and used them as a front to operate telecom scams in order to extort money from victims inside and outside the country, he said.
"Cabinet minister, interior minister, economy and finance minister, ministers and heads of relevant institutions, national police chief, national military police chief and authorities at all levels must take strict measures to implement this directive effectively," Hun Sen said.
