Nearly 8,000 Cambodian staff working in casinos in Preah Sihanouk province have lost their jobs after the government ordered the shutdown of online gambling by the end of this year, according to a provincial official.
Yov Khemara, provincial director of the Ministry of Labor, told VOD that four casinos shut down all their operations, while another 23 casinos ended the employment of all staff except security guards, and 33 other casinos temporarily suspended staff. He said a total of 73 casinos were operating in the province.
“Some of them come to work in the casino sector because salaries are higher than in the garment sector,” he said. “When the casinos close, they return to the garment sector. Some others don’t have work experience, so return to their homeland.”
