The UK and US governments have jointly imposed sanctions on a sophisticated scam and gambling network operating across Southeast Asia, marking one of the most significant cross-border crackdowns on illegal gambling-related operations to date.
The sanctions target the Prince Group, its chairman Chen Zhi, and associated entities including Jin Bei Group and Golden Fortune Resorts World Ltd. These companies are accused of operating scam centres in Cambodia that exploited trafficked foreign nationals, forcing them to run fraudulent online operations, often under the guise of online gambling and cryptocurrency investment schemes.
Authorities revealed that these operations were deeply intertwined with gambling properties, using disused casinos and purpose-built compounds as fronts for online fraud. The illegal proceeds were then laundered through complex financial channels connected to legitimate casino enterprises.
Assets valued at more than £100 million across London have been frozen, including luxury residences and office buildings. UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and US officials emphasized that this joint effort aims to protect victims, combat financial crime, and safeguard global financial integrity.
The move reinforces an escalating international effort to regulate the intersection of gambling, finance, and organized crime. It also highlights the growing focus on transparency, compliance, and human rights within the iGaming sector, particularly as digital gambling expands globally.
