The Sword And The Grail

About The Sword And The Grail

In August, Cambodia’s state news agency, AKP, reported that authorities had inspected 195 licensed casinos nationwide as part of a broader anti-scam crackdown. This resulted in the revocation of 20 licences and the suspension of 29 others, with an additional 23 licences lapsing naturally. 

Touch Sokhak, deputy spokesperson of the Ministry of Interior, emphasised that the operation seeks to prevent Cambodia from becoming “a safe haven or money-laundering base for technology-related criminals”.

However, the sustained enforcement drive has already taken a toll on the wider Cambodian economy. In May, the government lowered its 2026 GDP growth forecast as construction, real estate and consumer spending absorb the short-term impact of the crackdown.

About The Sword And The Grail

Entain highlighted data from H2 Gambling Capital that warned black market stakes in the UK are expected to nearly double from £17 billion ($22.7 billion) in 2025 to over £33 billion by 2028.

Entain emphasised offshore operators do not employ the same player protection measures and anti-money laundering standards that licensed companies must.

The company also highlighted its own research that suggests over 80% of consumers cannot “confidently distinguish” licensed operators from unlicensed ones.

What is The Sword And The Grail?

A total of 10 standards are up for revision, and the draft dates for the proposals range from June to August. The board notified licensees about the compilation of revisions and the meeting date on 4 September. Interested parties may submit comments ahead of the hearing through 5 October.

The extent of the revisions vary, but most are somewhat significant with regard to language that is being added or omitted. Proposed changes to Standard 9 (digital pari-mutuel systems), for instance, include mostly small additions, whereas Standard 3 (slot metering systems) has entire sections added and subtracted. Explanatory notes for the edits are frequent throughout all of the proposals.

While Nevada is considered the top gaming state in the US, its regulatory framework related to technology has been seen as slow-moving and cluttered in comparison to other up-and-coming jurisdictions around the US. Ever since NGCB Chair Mike Dreitzer took over last June, modernisation has been a top priority, and these latest revisions are an extension of that.