Tuesday, 16 December 2008

Officials search for, catalogue rogue slots

The Phnom Penh Post

Written by Chhay Channyda
Tuesday, 16 December 2008

PHNOM Penh officials say they have begun to catalogue slot machines following a directive by Prime Minister Hun Sen.

The premier ordered municipal police on December 5 to remove all stand-alone slot machines from unauthorised locations and relocate them in approved areas within the next six months.

The directive also reminded municipal officials that it is illegal for Cambodians to use slot machines.

Touch Naruth, chief of municipal police in Phnom Penh, said there are more than 60 slot machine parlours in and outside hotels throughout the city and that the municipality has asked each district to get an exact count.

"Any slot machine parlour that does not obey the order to move will be shut down," he said, adding that officials have begun investigating hotel parlours to determine which ones are illegally making them available to Cambodian patrons.

Police already closed one slot machine parlour at the Washington Hotel in Russey Keo district, Touch Naruth said.

Kob Sles, the district's deputy director, confirmed the closing. But a hotel employee told the Post the slots are still operating.

"The authorities have just instructed us not to allow Cambodians to play," said Ly Pov, a human resources official at the Washington Hotel. "The club is still open."

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