101 East

Cambodia’s Casino Gamble (2019x36)

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A Chinese casino empire to rival Macau is investing big in Cambodia, transforming a once-sleepy seaside town into a hub for gangsters and shady operators. Tens of thousands of Chinese workers have moved to Sihanoukville, many working in the backrooms of hastily built casinos or labouring night and day on construction sites. As soaring skyscrapers fill the horizon, the Cambodian government is welcoming the massive cash injection with open arms. But as homes are demolished and roads collapse under the weight of construction, resentment among locals is growing. 101 East investigates the underworld figures cashing in on Cambodia’s casino boom.