Inside Asian Gaming

OCTOBER 2018 INSIDE ASIAN GAMING 41 IN FOCUS Council of Ministers, currently stands at 12 chapters and 113 articles. Among its key features is the division of Cambodia into three zones: prohibited, promoted and favored. The construction of IRs will only be allowed in the promoted zones, such as Sihanoukville and Koh Kong. Casinos located in favored zones will need to undertake certain reforms to adapt to the new legislation if they want to keep operating. Gambling in the rest of the country will be prohibited to preserve cultural and religious roots. Another key step in introducing the LMGC will be the creation of a regulator, to be known as the Integrated Resorts Management and Commercial Gambling Committee (GMC). The regulator, comprising seven members from seven different ministries, would be in charge of most aspects of the gaming industry including licensing, collecting taxes and other approvals. In this respect, the legislation includes a dual licensing model: development and ownership, and operation, each of which will require different licenses and different requisites. The GMC will also oversee responsible gaming initiatives. Asked how Cambodia should best approach responsible gaming, Lawrence Hoc Nang Fong, Assistant Professor of Gaming and Hospitality Management at the University of Macau, told IAG , “At the very beginning I would suggest the government leads the project and tries to get all the stakeholders, especially the casino operators, to be engaged in this kind of thing. That’s the entry point.” The CIGC saw more than 300 attendees including a large number of casino operators from across Cambodia keen to hear more information about the draft gaming law, including expert analysis and opinion from a variety of industry experts. Most notable however was Mey Vann, who was quick to explain to the audience during his welcome speech exactly why the LMGC is so important. “We have developed the gaming industry for a very long time “By committing to the gambling industry in Cambodia we will attract the real professional gaming operators not only for gambling industry development but also for tourist attractions.” – H.E. Mey Vann