Cambodia’s Gaming Tax Revenues Surge

Revenues from Cambodia’s gambling taxes increased by 20 percent in the first six months of the year compared with the same period in 2014, thanks partly to players flocking to the country from neighboring Thailand.

According to The Cambodian Daily, which cited a finance ministry official, gambling tax revenues reached USD12m in the first half of 2015 compared with USD10m in the first half of 2014.

While the number of licensed casinos in Cambodia grew from 57 to 65 over the same period, the finance ministry official suggested that the revenue increase was partly fueled by players traveling to Cambodia from Thailand, where gambling is restricted by law.

“The amount of casino tax revenue collected is dependent on the situation in the border areas,” the ministry spokesman was quoted as saying. “The proportion [of tax revenues] from the Cambodia-Thailand border areas is large.”