Inside Asian Gaming

IAG SEP 2019年9月 亞博匯 12 亞博匯早報 BREAKFAST BRIEFS SUNCITY BOSS LAUNCHES LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THE AGE CAMBODIA TO STOP ISSUING ONLINE GAMING LICENSES 太陽城集團行政總裁 兼董事周焯華對澳洲 《時代報》採取法律行動 SUNCITY Group CEO Alvin Chau has initiated legal action against Australian media outlet The Age for defamation and what his lawyers describe as “false allegations” following reports he had been banned from entering Australia by the Home Affairs Department. According to a source familiar with the matter, speaking exclusively to IAG on condition of anonymity, CAMBODIA will stop issuing online gaming licenses and won’t renew current licenses when they expire. Chinese news agency Xinhua cited a directive from Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on 18 August in which he stated, “The Royal Government stops granting principles and licenses to operate online gambling businesses inside and outside Cambodia from the day of signature on this directive onwards. “For valid license holders, they will be allowed to operate until the licenses are expired. After that, the Ministry of Economy and Finance will not renew their licenses anymore.” The directive, which also covers arcade gambling, included an order for authorities at all levels to intensify their investigations into illegal online gambling operations in an effort to eliminate scams aimed at extorting money from both inside and outside of Cambodia, the Prime Minister added. “Some foreigners have used this form of gambling to cheat victims inside and outside the country,” he said. “The Royal Government has decided to stop issuing licenses for such operations within and from outside the Kingdom with immediate effect.” Chau is “deeply offended” by what he describes as the “false reporting” of the Australian media and believes his personal reputation, along with that of Suncity, has been “seriously damaged” by the Fairfax reports. IAG has learnt that Chau has gathered a professional team of legal consultants and finance and banking industry experts to advise him in relation to the allegations, and after considering their advice