Government orders temporary closure of all casinos in Cambodia

• 30 March 2020
• Local News
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Samdech Techo Hun Sen has ordered the temporary closure of all casinos nationwide from 1 April 2020 onward to prevent further spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The order was made at a press conference on Additional Measures to Prevent COVID-19 Pandemic at the National Assembly on the morning of 30 March 2020.

Regarding the closure of casinos, Samdech Techo Hun Sen said, “Why are we waiting until 1 April, why not immediately take action by tonight? The problem is not with the gambler but is with how the managers have to deal with their workers. Because of the casino is suddenly closed, who is responsible for the staffing issues being suspended in the event of closure?”

“We asked the Ministry of Economy and Finance to work on the tax incomes during the closing period. However, in Phnom Penh, there is only one casino, NagaWorld. We will temporarily close all casinos including those in Sihanoukville and along the national borders,” added the prime minister.

All the casinos will be free from monthly income tax from 1 April 2020 onward until further notice, according to a statement by the Ministry of Economy and Finance on 30 March 2020.

There are 165 casinos in operation employing 25,000 Cambodian workers, according to Mr Jiang Kexing, the head of the local branch of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia, in an interview with Southeast Asia Globe.

Recently, the Royal Government of Cambodia ordered the temporary closure of all beer gardens in Cambodia from 25 March 2020 to prevent the further global spread of the virus until further announcement. (Read more)

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