Sports Betting in Cambodia
Cambodia has one of the most unique and complicated gambling systems out of all countries Southeast Asia.
While most forms of gambling activities for Cambodian citizens are officially illegal, the country still hosts dozens of land-based casinos for foreigners and maintains a large underground sports betting market driven by demand, cultural traditions, and easy internet access to offshore online betting sites and bookmakers.
This guide explains everything you need to know about sports betting in Cambodia, including land-based and online bookmaker websites in the country.
Can You Sports Bet in Cambodia?
Technically, sports betting through bookmakers is illegal in the country for locals, and Cambodia’s Prime Minister has long maintained that widespread gambling creates debt, social problems, and criminal networks. Cambodia’s Phnom Penh Post has regularly reported on government crackdowns involving illegal online gambling networks, scams, and unlicensed operators across the country.
Under current laws in Cambodia, Cambodians are prohibited from participating in casinos, sports betting shops, and any online bookmakers or online betting sites operating inside the country. Cambodia still allows certain state-run lotteries, although these remain limited and heavily regulated.
However, the real gambling situation on the ground is very different. Foreign nationals in Cambodia can legally play, bet, and participate in casino games—including sportsbook-style wagering—inside Cambodia’s licensed gambling destinations and bookmakers.
Meanwhile, Cambodian punters continue to engage in sports betting discreetly, often through illegal bookmaker websites, offshore betting sites, and local gambling agents in Cambodia who collect bets in cash. Many international online betting sites openly accept players from Cambodia because enforcement focuses far more on bookmakers than individual bettors.
As a result, even though officially illegal, sports wagering is still deeply embedded in everyday Cambodian life—from barbershops watching two teams in the UEFA Leagues, to street cafés streaming lively football matches, to land-based gambling destinations and bookmakers in the country that provide sports markets in Cambodia.
Sports Betting in Cambodian Casinos and Bookmakers
Cambodia hosts over 50 operational casinos—mostly in border cities such as Poipet and Bavet, or major tourism zones like Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh. These gambling hubs in the country primarily serve foreign nationals, generating significant tax revenue and attracting major business investments to Cambodia worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
Foreigners in Cambodia are allowed to bet in the country legally through bookmakers on a wide range of events, including international football, boxing, basketball, and various regional tournaments.
In addition to sports wagering and bookmakers, these gambling hubs in Cambodia offer extensive gaming options such as slot machines, live dealer tables, classic card games, and full entertainment services designed to attract tourists and other foreign citizens.
For locals of Cambodia, however, bookmakers remain strictly off-limits under Cambodian law, as Cambodian citizens are prohibited from entering or participating in casino gambling activities.
Several major gambling centers in Cambodia operate as bookmakers with dedicated sportsbook areas for foreign visitors.
Phnom Penh
In the capital city of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, NagaWorld is the most well-known gambling hub with sportsbook-style wagering, including bookmakers for football, basketball, boxing, and regional competitions.
Thai Border
Along the Thai border of the country, properties in Poipet, Cambodia, such as Star Vegas International Resort and Holiday Palace, have historically provided sports betting lounges and bookmaker counters where foreign players can place bets on international events, especially the English Premier League.
Vietnam Border
At the Vietnam border of the country, casinos in Bavet, Cambodia—including long-running venues like Casino Vegas 79 and Le Macau Casino—have also offered bookmaker services for sportsbook betting targeted at Vietnamese and other foreign gamblers crossing into Cambodia.
Sihanoukville
In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, several coastal casinos like Queenco Casino and various Chinese-operated resorts previously featured sports betting and bookmaker services before the Cambodia government’s crackdown on illegal online gambling and betting operations.
While these gambling centers primarily focus on tables and slots, many maintain sportsbook sections or partner with offshore bookmakers to allow punters to place legal bets inside the premises.
Betting Online: Online Betting Sites and Bookmakers in Cambodia
Even though the Cambodian government banned commercial gambling operations for locals and outlawed domestic online betting in the country, offshore online betting sites and bookmakers still attract millions in bets every year.
Many Cambodian punters continue to bet on sports through underground agents, as local authorities in Cambodia often turn a blind eye to small-scale activities. These international operators and online bookmaker websites sit outside Cambodia’s jurisdiction, which allows Cambodian punters to register using VPNs, alternative URLs, or mirror links.
Foreign citizens living in Cambodia can legally use these betting sites, depositing funds in USD or through popular e-wallets that support automated, secure transactions, strong player data protection, and fast withdrawals.
Many punters in Cambodia constantly search for reliable online betting sites that offer safe deposits and competitive odds. Offshore bookmakers use encrypted systems to protect player data and enhance security for deposits and withdrawals of their winnings.
Offshore online betting sites and bookmakers accessible in Cambodia provide a wide range of markets, including football, basketball, tennis, esports, boxing, and other major sports, along with Asian handicap odds, live in-play wagering, and thousands of weekly matchups across world competitions.
Many of these online bookmakers also feature slots, poker rooms, and digital games, giving players a complete online gambling experience on their websites. Some bookmakers even offer the extra advantage of having Khmer-language interfaces, making it easier for punters in the country to navigate odds and place wagers in their mother tongue.
Online Sports Betting Cambodia: VPN Usage for Online Gambling
Many players in Cambodia wonder whether using a VPN for online bookmaker websites can help them bypass the strict restrictions on sports betting and online gambling in the country.
With Cambodia’s laws prohibiting locals from betting online while still allowing foreign nationals to gamble freely inside licensed hubs, many bettors look for alternative ways to reach offshore betting websites.
This has created a growing interest in VPNs, mirror links, and other privacy tools among players in Cambodia who want to continue wagering despite Cambodia’s regulatory barriers. VPNs are also a solid choice to protect personal data when betting on online events.
Can a VPN be used for sports betting?
Yes. Many bettors in Cambodia use VPNs to visit bookmaker websites, review odds, protect their privacy, avoid ISP blocks, or maintain security when depositing and withdrawing funds while betting online.
Is it legal to use a VPN for sports betting in Cambodia?
For foreign nationals in Cambodia, using a VPN for online betting sites and bookmakers in the country is not restricted. For locals of Cambodia, the act of sports betting remains illegal, whether or not a VPN is used.
Is 1XBET legal in Cambodia?
1XBET is a betting site/ bookmaker that is not licensed in Cambodia, but it operates offshore. Foreign nationals in Cambodia can legally use this bookmaker on the web. But Cambodia’s locals using 1XBET are technically engaging in illegal gambling activities that are banned under Cambodian law.
Popular Sports to Bet on in Cambodia Bookmakers
Despite gambling restrictions, Cambodian society has a strong sports culture, and major events draw high betting volume on online bookmakers.
Football
Football is the most popular sport in the country and in the world. It drives the highest volume of money bets among Cambodian punters.
Betting activity on different bookmakers focuses heavily on the English Premier League, various UEFA leagues, World Cup qualifiers, and the local Cambodian Metfone C-League, where two teams often dominate betting interest due to stronger performance and wider fan support.
Sepak Takraw
Sepak Takraw is a traditional regional sport in Cambodia that remains extremely popular in the country, especially among bettors who prefer fast, skill-driven events.
The game’s combination of acrobatic kicks, quick rallies, and highly visible player performance gives punters a clearer sense of form and matchup strength, making it easier to assess bookmaker odds and potential outcomes. Because the matchups are fast and intense, they attract large crowds from Cambodia and steady informal wagering.
Basketball
Basketball has grown rapidly in popularity in Cambodia, particularly among younger Cambodian bettors who follow NBA broadcasts and major Asian leagues. The sport’s global appeal, frequent games, and easy-to-understand scoring system make it ideal for casual betting online.
Many Cambodians enjoy placing bets on team totals, player stats, and live in-play markets during fast-paced matchups through their trusted bookmakers.
Combat Sports
Combat sports—especially Kun Khmer, Cambodia’s own form of kickboxing—draw significant underground betting activity in Cambodia. Matchups are often held during weekends, festivals, and televised events, attracting both local spectators and expats living in Cambodia.
Because fighters become well-known within Cambodia’s community, bettors can study form, technique, and fight histories to make more informed bets. The high-energy environment and cultural importance of Kun Khmer in Cambodia make it one of the most active informal betting markets in the country.
Volleyball
Volleyball is also gaining traction among bettors in Cambodia, especially in urban areas and university settings where local competitions are frequently held.
With clearly defined team play, visible momentum shifts, and frequent regional tournaments, volleyball appeals to bettors who enjoy analyzing round tempo, team chemistry, and set-by-set performance.
Although not as dominant as football or Sepak Takraw industries, volleyball’s rising popularity makes it an increasingly common addition to bookmaker markets for Cambodia’s punters.
