Cambodia to Introduce Gaming Reform Laws

The Southeast nation of Cambodia does not tend to elicit positive thoughts from some people, largely given its history and years of terror under the former Khmer Rouge regime.

Things have changed over the last few decades, however. Tourism has increased as a result of Cambodia’s beauty, cheapness and laid back lifestyle and the country has also received positive international attention.

Live gaming, which includes poker, may also change for the better in the country as Cambodia’s Government has outlined plans to implement reforms to its gaming laws later in the year.

While details of the bill that is to be introduced currently seem to be few and far between, the intentions of the Government in putting them forward are clearer.

The Government aims to raise revenue from its small but solid live gaming sector and capitalise on the decline in the gaming industry of nearby Chinese-administered Macau.

It is no secret that Macau has experienced major troubles which have come largely from the Chinese government’s nationwide clampdown on corruption.

Revenues for the gaming industry in Macau, once considered the global giant of the gaming sector, have fallen by 39 per cent year-on-year, a sign that many players wish to take their money elsewhere.

Poker may gain a big boost in Cambodia should its proposed gaming reforms increase its attraction for gaming and poker operators.

The country has already been established in the professional poker circuit, with some major poker events having been held there over the years.

Perhaps the most notable of these is the Asian Poker Tour (APT) Cambodia, which took place last July in the beachside resort town of Sihanoukville.

The next APT Cambodia event was scheduled to take place next month, but organisers cancelled the event in March, rescheduling it for October due to clash of dates with APPT Macau.

Reforms that are favourable to gaming and poker in Cambodia would likely lead to greater numbers of poker players and perhaps events in the country.

This can be attributed to the country’s generally good climate, cheap costs of goods and services and easy accessibility to its major hubs like Siem Reap and Phnom Penh.

Photo: telegraph.co.uk