Cambodia's Casino Gamble | 101 East

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.
- Subscribe to our channel: aje.io/AJSubscribe
- Follow us on Twitter: / ajenglish
- Find us on Facebook: / aljazeera
- Check our website: www.aljazeera....
#Cambodia #China #Casinos

[@OnePiece-fy2kt]

Cambodian here. I can assure you that not a single ordinary Cambodian living soul likes what's happening in Sihanouk right now, except for the tycoons and those high-ranked government officials who get all the benefits.

[@JR537]

Not until Cambodian speaks out what you think is good for Cambodian either rich or poor. Your future will be in at risk. Stand up and fight what you care for.

[@youwatch1995]

@@JR537 They can't their people are afraid to fight back their government. The easiest way to free them is invasion

[@JR537]

@@youwatch1995 Agree! They might be afraid about their life.

[@pratuengsukperm9291]

You are right

[@ivornappinion9406]

I Believe the locals was happier with the genuine tourist taking a holiday there ,not this :{ i have visited Pnomh penh and Siem reap and really enjoyed it too :} 2003/2004

[@raykaruna4062]

Its used to be a beautiful and peaceful city😭but now it's awful to even think about it as a Cambodia citizen.

[@azzking9305]

I feel the same way about Sydney in Australia

[@paokang1242]

Cambodia don’t have nothing. I’m Cambodia 🇰🇭 too I’m Asian too but not I live in USA 🇺🇸

[@gutsglory3625]

Does China secretly control Cambodia?

[@Beth6902]

Cambodia people will end up with nothing.

[@papayapapaya8339]

most of the police and law enforcement here are ransomed by corruption

[@sreyounoem3035]

As an Cambodian citizen i don't want my country to develop like this, i want to stand up and fight for it we lost more and more, but what can i do? when we say something true about our social i guess i'll disappear on this world. i have a family i have to work hard for my stomach. what i want to tell you guys we live so hard in this country.

[@nibig3869]

"Well we're living in The Kingdom of Wonder" "There are a lot of things to wonder about" These sentences parks a lof punch.

[@Kylelongwest]

as a cambodian, i gotta agree. the city grows too fast, inhabitants can't keep up. i don't go to the city anymore, i don't know what it's like now. usually tourists go to koh rong, they no longer go sihanouk ville, it's for chinese now. the hotel price is now more expensive than hong kong

[@DarthMalgusSith_Lord]

if i visit Cambodia again, i prefer Kep or Koh Rong or Koh Kong

[@phouleng]

បើនិយាយបែបនេះ ចុះខ្មែរនៅក្រុងព្រះសីហនុ គិតយ៉ាងមិចទៅ ស្លាប់អស់ហើយ? ខួរក្បាលស្អី? តើឯងជាខ្មែរទេ

[@orangerightgold7512]

Yeah its the artificial growth from criminal organizations that causes this. Same thing happened in las vegas. The residents there can barely afford to live near las vegas after its boom.

[@alantan9863]

Are you serious? Hotel room more expensive than HK? Btw, make sense. Protests.

[@mothermahapp5338]

កិម ឡេង មកពីគាត់អត់ទៅព្រោះតែក្រុងព្រះសីហនុនោះមិនមានសន្តិសុខ។

[@Marvin2141554272]

As someone who speaks khmer and chinese, the translations are spot on. Something most fail to do and should not be taken for granted.

[@Birdylockso]

"It's a Kingdom of Wonders, and there are many things to wonder about." That's just gold...

[@leocracker9450]

NGOs barely can play any role that matters

[@upthedown1]

He said that with a straight face🙄

[@angkeasom6637]

I laughed so hard when he said that.

[@bubbleteaichooseyou]

That's a long running joke here LOL

[@ubermenschzarathustra862]

ikr😂

[@jamiemckenzie8705]

I used to live there in 2015, there were no high rise buildings, no traffic, just a sleepy little backpacker town, with beach parties every night, loads of the hippie type walking around barefoot... It blows my mind how much it has changed in such a small amount of time. The place is unrecognisable to me now after watching this.

[@adellewilliams3266]

haha

[@Ben-yp9nh]

Well I suppose the silver lining to this cloud, is the the disappearance of the backpackers.

[@jamiemckenzie8705]

@@Ben-yp9nh Backpackers & Weed or Chinese Mafia & Guns.. Umm backpackers please.. lol

[@kevin080592]

@@jamiemckenzie8705 same..backpacker parties and hippie types anytime over chinese mafia syndicates

[@nehcooahnait7827]

I think even the Chinese knows about ‘don’t boost ur economy with casinos’... start with manufacturing...

[@rorngsorn5272]

I loved Sihanoukville when I was there the first time in 1999. Beautiful and peaceful. But when I went back in 2017, I was shocked and never want to go back.

[@wallenbergphoto]

Same me first time 1999, The Otres beach, 1 ONLY 1 beach bar no guesthouses or hotels only 2 home stays on the whole beach. Already at that time, US and French investment companies had bought the land imagine how much they must have sold it for to the Chinese. It was a very very quiest place, I stayed at a French Cambodian Homestay, had to go to Central market with a motorbike everyday to buy breakfast, not even breakfast servings at the whole beach. At new year, Millennium, they had to have AK47 guards at the entrance to a hippie party with max, 100 forerngeirs at that time all of the foreigners of whole of Sihanoukville.. Cambodia that time was Mystical, not really safe, guns around everywhere, Cannabis sold everywhere, and strange people, was all the Expats living there. I never met another Swede in Cambodia for 1,5 month there, and even in Bangkok people warned us to go hahaha... Those where the times, OFF THE BEATEN TRACK Truly those times. Never again Sihanoukville ever, so sad to see this. Again dont get me wrong I be happy to see the local population get it even with this muich better standard etc. then in 1999, BUT the most dont get any peaice of the cake!!!! It's neo Capitalism corruption at its best. Strongest Memory Sianoukville 1999-2000. Boat trip there from Thailand, Trat, Out boat catch fire, there were like 10 sheeps cramped into our "made for tourist river boat in Amsterdam style boat", packed with also like 100 people 20 sheeps and no way to get out only one door... And there were super high waves so you could see the boat swinging and half the window got under water every turn. Welll inside Siuhanoukville there was Three kids max, 12 years old riding around in a very old Mercedes car YES car, with a 22 mm rifle pointing at buffalos. Also the police chief of Siunoukville, having wine and beer with my and my Ex. and wanted her deeply, even put his 9 mm gun on the table to show his power but in the end he respected my girlfriend. he came to the beach new year with like 20 drunk other police, AK47 Freakin RPG on the backs.. And just was wild..

[@brimleyhillmassive]

I was there in sihnoukville in 2009 and it was quite calm and beautiful. Signs of change were there but nothing could have prepared me for my return in 2019. It was heart breaking. Love and power to you Cambodians, your country is absolutely amazing and I love your people.

[@panhachan8765]

Thank you so much for loving us we appreciate it but I want my old កម្ពុជា back 😡🤬😤😿👋🏻😑

[@seanrodgers1839]

I was there in 1997. Was nothing there really. Shocking to see this.

[@livman9095]

Casino is fine, whoever goes there has to travel there voluntarily; it's the online scams that is truly evil and destroying humanity.

[@tl2245]

You think what you are. The Cambodians need money and this is their chance. Their government allows legal gambling at first, and then things go this way. All in all, it's still much better than those dark colonized days. Cambodians get money right now and get independence. And good thing is the Cambodia government realizes the problems and crimes already and ask China to give help. I think future will be good and never ever good for you kind of former white masters. BTW I am fully confident that the west Europe will soon fall down into a crime heaven..

[@brimleyhillmassive]

@中国没盟友 Show me examples of the money being used to benefit other parts of the country and I'll stop being 'self righteous'.

[@Atreyx]

The human trafficking problem in Cambodia is because the corruption of their government that exposing human trafficking can lead to bad reputations for Cambodia

[@khmerspirit3351]

I felt sad after having watched this documentary. It is totally different compared to 20 years ago when Sihanoukville was beautiful and tranquil. I have to blame Cambodian GVT who drive this place into this situation today. I hope they use Cambodian law and enforcement properly to stabilise that place.🇰🇭🇰🇭🇰🇭🇰🇭

[@koalatheworld]

The Cambodian govt is probably corrupt.

[@brucelee8926]

Chinese will pay the cambodian government under the table money so they can do anything they want. No future for the cambodian people

[@PP-vf1kx]

Khmer Spirit Is Now The Dragon Soul

[@danjomanjo2941]

Was there in 2012 - glad i did back then, now i would skip this sh*thole within a heart beat.

[@nanking5705]

Yeah too sad😥

[@Thered09100]

blame local authority too not just chinese.. because they who really want chinese money..

[@Dignity100]

there might be some truth to what you say

[@jackalshine1369]

When a country ia corrupted, they would need easy money. Same thing happened to Malaysia during Najib regime.

[@user-qv9lx1zc8p]

@William Singht Both china and japan is very corrupted.

[@NobodyYouKnow754]

Everyone wants money and China has a printing machine

[@kl_guy6969]

only failed person will always complain how other making money!

[@gabrielnike1144]

I came here to learn how to trade after listening to a guy on radio talk about the importance of investing and how he made $460,000 in 4 months from $160k investment. Somehow his conversation has helped me shed light on some things, but I'm confused, I'm a newbie and I'm open to ideas on trading.

[@samuelbrown248]

It is possible to produce superior performance provided you do something different from the majority. However, most of us tend to pay more attention to the shiniest position in the market to the cost of proper diversification.

[@leonpawlak5748]

Having monitored my portfolio performance which has made a jaw dropping $360k from just the past two quarters alone, i have learned why experienced traders makes enormous returns from the seemingly unknown market

[@nelygalan2766]

Interesting. I've a huge sum of money doing absolutely nothing at all in my bank account, i wanna gets something started with it. You seem to be doing excellent for yourself, how do you achieve this?

[@edipangestu8259]

That's impressive. Are you giving him your money or it does stay in your trading account? What's really the idea behind copying trades.

[@edipangestu8259]

Does his service available outside the UK? As his broker is registered in UK.

[@ilovejaredtaylor8220]

I really miss and cry for the Cambodia and Thailand of 25 years ago. Greed

[@YoLo-sq8kq]

Why so you can exploit it and keep it a third world country?

[@johnwest360]

SO SAD THAT THIS IS NOW HAPPENING HERE IN THE PHILIPPINES!!! God bless Cambodia!!

[@thomasstrider8965]

Justin Belmonte hmm now already happen like many years in phi and other places in south east Asia

[@thanh1234271]

@@thomasstrider8965 not in vietnam :)

[@hank4920]

@@thanh1234271 Phu Quoc island will be next

[@baoquoc3710]

@@hank4920 I traveled to Phu Quoc before, and surprise, still yet to see any trace of gambling hotel. I just simply have a good time there, maybe you should go to PQ first before drawing any conclusions

[@jewelrybag4557]

Gambling, Drgus, Alcohol and Prostitution bring nothing but misery to us all.

[@garethifan1034]

Exports of china - wherever they go, trouble and misery is never far behind

[@PP-vf1kx]

Jewelry Bag Is Full Of Junks

[@bosheek8632]

@@garethifan1034 They learned from the British during the Opium wars. The US and British do this through their government also.

[@garethifan1034]

@@bosheek8632 I challenge you to show me where this is happening anywhere in the UK or US..under these conditions - having the very same consequences that we see here..? You have no argument other than '..but..but..they did it FIRST..' usually known as a straw man argument. So does this justify chinese doing this today?? Is that your justification of this criminal activity?? Quite telling that you have to refer all the way back to the opium wars to find any kind of reply to this..that's the taught answer of all paid chinese shills who are ignorant of history.. Ignored..

[@bosheek8632]

@@garethifan1034 CIA Drug running in South America... DYOR

[@henyz1210]

You can't blame an investor for making your people greedy. Instead, the government should be blamed for failing to maintain public order and curb corruption.

[@user-yf9uh4r25]

2012년 시아누크빌에 방문하여 코롱섬에서 즐거운 시간을 경험하였습니다. 바다속 푸른 산호초와의 첫만남을 아직도 기억합니다. 마음이 너무 아프네요. 시아누크빌 시민들의 행복을 기원합니다

[@resurrexi]

Feels like gentrification similar to what's seen in San Francisco, except instead of tech companies driving up the living expenses, it's casino business

[@MardizoneNuth]

The truth is a sad truth but the saddest truth is that it is happening everywhere in the realm of a casino's world not just Cambodia 🇰🇭

[@_HMCB_]

Heartbreaking to see that mother and child living in the tent. The pattern: the wealthy living for themselves while exploiting the poor.

[@spotato]

If you fly to the world most developed city: LA, USA... you will find more tents then here!

[@Islandviber]

NGO workers who live in luxury residences and paid relatively well who do little to help but just report on the situation they can do very little for to make difference. Hypocritical westerners who want to help but will not sacrifice their own standards of living.

[@menghuaguo9380]

As a Chinese, it's such a pain to watch these ppl suffering due to these irresponsible and unregulated investments. People are driven by greed these days, underage are forced to work and family are tore apart. When I worked in housing issues in the US, I know the importance of the restriction of investments of forigenger speculators. I think the combodian government also needs to take responsibility. It is such a pain to see the mother live with the kid under that circumstance. And I do hope the government can constructively impose the corresponding laws to protect the people from getting kicked out such as rent ceiling etc. Wish these people all the best. I feel guilty about it, people need to stop making off money or satisfying their material desire by ripping off the local people.

[@monicasar172]

The native Cambodian people in Sihanoukville are facing oppression every single days mainly from the Chinese business owners who have lots of money to bribe the local law enforcement.

[@jonnym4670]

after seeing the way the country has been for the last 60 years it seems like the only time that got a break was 20 years ago for a short period

[@jiezhao8779]

same feeling as u , those greed Chinese absorbing the blood from natives , they will be punished by god

[@challenger516]

@@monicasar172 Where is your source?

[@fireiselia7939]

"We live in the Kingdom of Wonder" .... best BS answer I ever heard. This will be my answer to any questions I don't know the answer.

[@igorvadim3022]

Blue Vonei 16:12 this guy answers mine I also live in Cambodia btw

[@bsiwwuh6227]

₩&¥%€%£$@💋❤

[@mrlee9801]

.

[@moshood1balogun]

🤣😂

[@youflaw3285]

That was THE MF DUMBEST ANSWER HE COULDVE GAVE LMAO

[@kengpiseth8837]

It’s very saddening to see people forced out of their own home for tall buildings.

[@SL33P-WALK3R]

The intro was right out of a Box Office Movie Premiere!😂🤣

[@rcordh5657]

when the development so fast, the infrastructure couldn't handle it, its so strange to see massive tall skyscrapers and large building sitting in the middle of dirt roads with potholes and chaos streets this city is abnormally construct.

[@adamnan9437]

We live in the kingdom of wonder, LOL.

[@royaltee960]

who hire those guys what an idiot

[@ogazmo]

Lol he blame investor bringing in corruptions, have you guys go through the Cambodia immigration when you arrive at the airport? the officers were asking for tips most of the time...

[@AdamLuiTube]

Cambodia's official name is Kingdom of Cambodia and the government markets it as Kingdom of Wonder to tourists, why is he an idiot for calling it what he grew up learning the name as...

[@madykeo]

Well he was being sarcastic by following this sentence with "there are a lot of things to wonder about"

[@madykeo]

Anyway I was laughing after he said those sentences too lol

[@catsamazing338]

With such selfish human greed. Does this world have a bright future ?

[@jimkelly4596]

I first arrived in Sihanoukville (SHV) 2009 and like most foreigners thoroughly enjoyed the climate, the seas, the low cost of living, the "laid back" vibe and the freedom from state control. If you ask if the redevelopment was detrimental to that SHV, the answer is a definite "yes". There was another SHV however, that occupied by the Khmer population. That SHV was a down-at-heel, undeveloped, poverty stricken fishing village which offered it's citizens very few opportunities to work their way out of their poverty. If you ask if the developments were detrimental to that SHV, if the transformation to a city designed to meet the 21st century, a transformation that brought a huge number of better paying jobs, ask if it was detrimental to that SHV and you'd get a resounding no. There is an additional extremely important factor when weighing pros and cons. This is to recognize that developments in Sihanoukville were part of a comprehensive deal between Cambodia and China. A true assessment can only be arrived at when the national context is included.

[@raoplns]

There are better ways to make money than selling the soul and culture

[@bodyloverz30]

@@raoplns Name them?

[@keithw4920]

Yes, it is all nice and good when one comes from a developed economy/city and gets to go to a foreign laid back land where costs are 1% of home. But wanting that laid back land to stay at 1% costs FOR YOUR OWN PLEASURE comes at the costs of the natives staying at that level.

[@JDL1115]

There’s reason why the Chinese government won’t let anyone open Casino in China. But Macau is exceptional.

[@mikhaailkabristante7496]

I was in Cambodia last 2016,most of the Cambodian people I met were happy and honest people. That time there were few Casino ,and now more and more casino comming...

[@tsdz2008]

Casinos are the malignant tumor and cancer of civilized society!

[@101MRSPICE]

Thank God for Aljazera

[@Jay_Dahl]

That's funny, when the owner that new $150 M casino says he is meeting all the local construction standards - and he says that while NOT wearing a hard hat in the middle of a construction zone.

[@Noelhakim9787]

"We're living in the kingdom of wonder, and there are many things to wonder about"😂😂 this guy is a joker

[@salessou517]

I just read comments from you guys, I can tell how you feel. Imagine me being a local

[@ttvmikimoto5475]

I'm so sorry I hope your people make it through and end up flipping the situation in your favor.

[@tichymusicrecords]

I am truly sorry to see happen to you, you know its your own land your birthright being taken like that, as a African i truly feel how you are feeling

[@ivornappinion9406]

Good comment

[@tonymoretti2347]

Ask people in Vancouver too

[@thaddeojancervantes8641]

F

[@answerback-films655]

Legend has it Johny Ferrari will be found in some seedy bordello 20 years from now...drunk, alone and happy...muttering "its all loop holes" to the passed out drunk next to him.

[@mikehunt8823]

He made my skin crawl, I don't like to wish harm on anyone but I'd make an exception for Johny ferrari, the world would be a better place without people like him in it.

[@earinsound]

i went to sihanoukville in 2002. almost no tourists. very quiet. can’t believe what i’m seeing here!!

[@streetlight3860]

Going to war with another country costs millions, buying one 3rd world country at a time, Priceless :)

[@potatorekt7046]

*billions

[@MarcKeps]

I will always remember S'ville as a special place, with wonderful people, amazing seafood, fresh air and fresh water. It is so sad to see it "developed" in this way. Do we really need another casino mega-center in this world?

[@goldbrodidoggo]

Donald Trump love that, let Obama take over asap the greatest statesman in many decades..

[@skipperclinton1087]

Markkeps: I was there in 03 & 04 and it was serene but a little dodgy at night. Went back in 2017 and all the nice beaches looked like Pattaya and vendors running around at night selling fireworks and backpackers setting them off.

[@daniellebcooper7160]

@@jeeefthegreat7555 Your comment is typical of someone who has spent little time there.

[@oli3096]

My country's beauty was not tailored for your enjoyment. Development brings in better wages and living standards for locals there. If you like it you are free to stay. if not, you can leave

[@daniellebcooper7160]

@@oli3096 You say 'there'. Do you live in sihanookville yourself?. You're the only Khmer i've heard suggest that it is better now.

[@yuliusadam5956]

His name... Is Johnny Ferrari 😂 that's a gangsta name

[@user-xf5vm5ci6c]

In 2020, my family and I went to Cambodia for a summer vacation. What surprised me the most was that the restaurants and casinos only had Chinese signs and many people only spoke Chinese. My family and I thought we were in China, not Cambodia. are all our owners. entertainment, casino, restaurant or hotel are foreigners of a certain country, most of them are foreigners, most of them are Chinese and speak Chinese, this surprised me and I thought that Cambodians don't like businesses, or can't afford to own one, so why doesn't anyone own a restaurant or hotel? Cambodia's casino entertainment area. I asked some friends who went to Cambodia many years ago and they said that the Cambodian government sold land to China to set up an exclusive economic zone. I was really shocked. Cambodia, you know, if there is a conflict in Cambodia, I think there will be a lot of damage, because the Chinese nation is not friendly with its neighbors.

[@arthurwatts1680]

I grew up with gambling addicts - horse-racing mainly - and I'm surrounded by people who seem equally addicted to sports betting, but the immutable rule is that the house ALWAYS wins. We have a legal casino and numerous betting outlets all over my city in northern Australia - if I want, I can gamble 24/7. I've also spent an hour or so in a Cambodian casino waiting for my passport to be stamped on a border visa run out of Thailand, but very few games hold any appeal for me and I doubt that I would have been welcome at any table already surrounded by manic Chinese gamblers. At best, casinos MIGHT have cheap food and alcohol but that's it. Remove that and you may as well be handing your wallet to the guy at the door and getting a cab home. Online gambling doesn't even hold the prospect of a night out - why anyone would throw money down that drainpipe mystifies me. We are an odd species.

[@DuyTran-sh3oi]

When rich Chinese ppl get interviewed "As long as I can make money I don't care about anything else" When Khmer ppl get interviewed "I don't have a place to sleep" Solution is so easy but the ppl in power are too greedy to care

[@lalala1012]

Shouldn't the government be responsible for that instead of investor? And shouldn't it be the responsibility of Cambodian gov to set investment guidelines? it was definitely the gov choice allow resort to be build! And # of tourist visiting Cambodia to drive the economy. Clearly investors invest for 1 agenda. That is profit! Isn't this what the western companies has been doing or you want CN to FOC build public housing. The west would definitely never do anything that like that. Look at cadbury child labour, children were not able to go school and have to work overwhelming hours a day and only paid pittance! Where cadbury made millions of $ in 50 over countries. SG is facing high property prices can we blame it to the developer? And the number of westerns companies in sg for that? Clearly Cambodia doesn't have that $ needed to construct public housing and can only resort in selling their soil/sands to 1s world country I know who is the clientele. Why don't US just loan to Cambodia, oh wait, US needs to consult Chinese debt collector first. Anyway UN may step in to help? No? Shouldn't VN be the one helping Cambodia since VN invaded Cambodia holding it as territory of VN from 70s to 90s. Nguyen it's your country that destroyed them...

[@somponesakdy826]

Communist government is corrupted everywhere from original old Soviet to Vietnam Laos and so on. Why are they still survive? Because they are Asian; most educated European countries they learned faster.

[@lalala1012]

@@somponesakdy826 well look at US when hilarious clink was in charge, billions of $ when missing without a trace no investigation just silenced! Corruptions are everywhere not just the communist but so called Republican Democrat or whatsoever. Chiang Kai-shek was a extremely corrupted man tgt w his team of shenanigans. He ain't communist! Look at south Korea, the # of corruption scandal.. majority of the members of United Nation are the hypocrite, when CN try to persecute those corrupted official, UN grant asylum to the culprit. But nobody grant or save Julian Assange and Edward Snowden (except Russia)..

[@DuyTran-sh3oi]

@@lalala1012 you seem offended for some reason, obviously the government needs to put things in place to protect it's citizen, but the greed is evident. You can't take money to your grave, no one is going to remember a rich man/woman, not even his/her sugar baby.

[@lalala1012]

@@DuyTran-sh3oi dont be offended I'm just stating facts that are always omitted. The reason the west sponsored media to infiltrate CN n the world is to broadcast their sponsored narratives and stymieing CN Media. Look at what how the west labelled Tik Tok, the #1 most D/L apps in the world, which is developed by a Chinese company. Contrary to US Google filter n control of search results, FB obtain of sensitive personal data, Instagram ownership of subscriber photos, Apple siri voice recognition are all sent to US data base. I never noticed this until HK protest exist. How the western sponsored media uses oxymoron lambasting narratives towards CN. I'm not against western people but just producing facts here if what I know.

[@kongsovanmony5064]

I'm so devastated that they turned Sihanoukville into a land of casinos. When I went there in 2021, the city just felt black and white, There were just so many unfinished buildings and so, so many casinos. I have completely lost the joy and the vibrant of the city when I visited there in 2009.

[@anypercentdeathless]

Twenty years ago I traveled to Cambodia-gorgeous environment, and laid back people living relatively comfortable simple lives. And very apparently happy. Not "developed," but beautifully simple.

[@chenyang9303]

"Twenty years ago Cambodian people lived comfortably and were happy". You mean in 2000 when the life expectancy for Cambodia was only 58.16, when the under-five mortality rate was 124 per 1000, when child undernutrition rate was 51.5%? Please please stop romanticising poverty and take what you saw during a "tour" as the true reflection of a country and the happiness of its people.

[@asdfasdf-rv1wv]

your comment is gold, deserve a metal

[@youngz13o]

Nothing beautiful about living in poverty. Stop romanticizing it

[@spotato]

The westerners always hope the rest world never develop themselves, so their "beautifully simple" dream world will not break and never wake up... So they still can hold the first class country passport and enjoy their Superior life style around the world..

[@Kenwang1985]

One Belt One Road bring china chinese corruption

[@supremacy2040]

If someone told me “don’t worry this wonderful building is being made to Chinese standards” I would say, no thanks. “Made in China” does not have a good reputation world wide.

[@captauron4514]

Supre Macy it wouldn’t surprise me if you wrote this comment from your iPhone, which is “Made in China”

[@justmyopinion1551]

Right!

[@justmyopinion1551]

@@captauron4514 Nope I'm sure she wrote it from her Samsung phone which is made in South Korea!

[@captauron4514]

Just My Opinion samsung are made in Vietnam, China, India, Brazil, Indonesia and a few in South Korea.

[@justmyopinion1551]

@@captauron4514 I can't lie about that facts which your right but the one she has was made in South Korea 😂

[@MithunOnTheNet]

RIP Cambodia. Blame Hun Sen for your country's takeover.

[@aboutraore6754]

Cambodia can only grow with Chinese investment, you think American investors wouldn't do any shady business to exploit the country? The Americans are known for that.

[@johndowe9251]

@@aboutraore6754 you already sell yourself to chinese easy to see

[@MinhNguyen-ff6xf]

Khmer people love Chinese, and this consequence is inevitable.

[@johndowe9251]

The ONLY person who could possibly say this is Chinese Khmer. Khmer people ,sa'op menuh chun. Not because of racism but because they took over the country, abetted by hun sen the ex Khmer leader, before the destroyed Khmer society could recover and defend itself from outside economic full force invasion.

[@johndowe9251]

They also ' love' vietnamese which, as a vietnamese I'm sure you know

[@inderaputra2846]

Come on Cambodian's Government, wake up now before it is too late. Get a strong team with powerful enforcing agency, and that should be a good start!

[@jonathaneffemey944]

Thanks for posting.

[@6795michael1]

How can construction like that with workers not wearing safety helmet and safety shoes and still said that their project already passed safety regulations.

[@sataka2546]

Well truth about all the vices but no different from Las Vegas.

[@michaeltan3530]

This video is made to create tension between the local and the foreigner. The west is really good for making this kind of documentary.

[@frankcastle7863]

Did u know what the chinese syndicate did in laos & myanmar ? dozen of human being sold like an animal in there many hostage being tortured till dead

[@Sovereign_Citizen_LEO]

You clearly don't know what the Chinese (and gangs like the Triads) are doing in/ to America and dozens of other countries. Just the drug trade/ 110,000 U.S. Fentanyl deaths last year and money laundering ($billions every year in America alone) are severely damaging/ destroying the U.S. In the case of Cambodia I just hope the Chinese can complete all the infrastructure in 10 to 20 years, but ordinary Cambodians will be forced into the countryside regardless.

[@NishikiMiyata]

look what the Chinese have done to these beautiful areas like this. real shame.

[@Zorojuro2345]

As a Cambodian, It break my heart that the goverment allows the Chinese investor to do that to a country. It is a shame that the prime minister doesn't take any steps to protect his people. I break my heart even as a 16 years old

[@chenny008]

so better make a country poor keep in poor.. rich still rich?? people doesn't have jobs. no way to get money. so that is better? your heart will be perfect good?

[@愺伱螞坮彎瀦塔綠班]

without chinese investor, u dont even have a book in your class

[@mayann2009]

ignore those two, they are bots

[@swalkers8008]

@@mayann2009 correct! They are the wumao, I.e, the Internet comment army of China. They are going any distance to justify china’s shady activities.

[@Kenwang1985]

One Belt One Road bring China chinese corruption

[@TheCornellJunkie]

Dammit... My heart goest out to the people of Cambodia.... it’s not China. Your Government is corrupt.

[@ramnath9598]

China help Asian countries USA help western countries

[@ramnath9598]

World is captured by western things brands English, but when China help people be jealous

[@KnowOver07]

Yeah...because of corruption. The current Cambodian government is borrowing thousand million of dollar from China alone. It's nearly 40% of the total debt. Yeah...Chinese will take over Cambodia someday for some important part in the near future such as Sihaknouk Ville, Poipet, and Phnom Penh - especially the Sihaknouk Ville's Port.

[@TheCornellJunkie]

Ram Nath lol are you sure they are helping... I think you are delusional. But anyways, I’m not blaming the Chinese... the government opened the door... they tried to do it in Malaysia too luckily another party won the election and closed the door on Chinese investment.

[@chairmanimao7982]

a girl into politics.... that is fishy

[@dysothearith7631]

News in Cambodia don't dare to release the truth , Thank you for making this video world Wide

[@Lotus29876]

I just cannot believe a single words those C businessmen said… they actually don’t brining any good to local.

[@lostinmuzak]

It’s such a shame how the ordinary people of Cambodia has to suffer from their politicians. When the only kind of investment you can get are from criminals you rather go without it. Good luck Cambodia. Your suffering never ends. So sorry.

[@johnbrookhaven7134]

Cambodian government let china build the chinese military base in ports of Cambodia near border of Vietnam .that is threatening to Vietnam and southeast asia..

[@shanetonkin2850]

“We live in the kingdom of wonder.. and uh.. there are many things to wonder about” Haha that is such a Cambodian way to answer an awkward question.

[@Sweet_Dae]

This reminds me of POGO here in the Philippines.

[@michealdouglas8206]

When the poor learn the rules of the game the rich cry foul

[@christophercook7170]

Real fact

[@christophercook7170]

If you want to be successful have the mindset of the rich, spend less and invest More. Don't give up your dreams.

[@madykeo]

Wow thank you so much for making this documentary. Smh oh my poor homeland ;(

[@nicksawyer5852]

So sad to see this happening. 2007 sihanoukville was amazing. Feel for the Cambodian people 😭😢

[@linavong530]

Lina Vong Owner

[@raylee4126]

This is an objective and fair report BTW：I'm Chinese

[@yi538]

I am sorry. As a chinese, I hate these shameful Chinese businessmen very much.They created a lot of crime, It has great harm to the people of Cambodia and the interior of China. I can't do anything. I hope one day our government can do something to stop them.

[@sunnienie239]

i can say thank you Enough to Al Jazeera English i enjoying watching this channel i learn so much watching it

[@alleneng]

Having 4 ads in this video should be just as illegal

[@OIBAN]

switch to brave browser and you won't have any. thx me later

[@Dignity100]

you make an interesting point

[@YokaiTetsuiga]

google chrome with adblock and adblock+, easy mode

[@alleneng]

@@YokaiTetsuiga i have that on my pc but on mobile nothing i can do

[@LochTaupo]

@Rice Cooker - When you open the video on your phone, scroll it all the way to the end, then wait a few seconds and then pull it back to the start and play the video. No ads will play.

[@trailerhaul8200]

Chinese casino empire was trying to open up casinos in Vietnam, and Vietnamese got really mad and protested. Glad it stopped that (for now)

[@todddanforth8853]

Gambling ALWAYS involves criminals. ALWAYS and EVERYWHERE.

[@sonicap7810]

I cry for my country.

[@juergennoser2147]

I cry with you.i been there many times.spend great times

[@edenguo4698]

Pick up the bowl and finish eating, put down the bowl and scold your mother

[@Atreyx]

Yeah Cambodia government suck cuz it allow human trafficking lmao

[@dearbrown123]

i am sorry对不起

[@wonderfulchina1344]

@@dearbrown123 关你屁事

[@h.b7172]

Pls investigate the china casino in philippines.

[@xav4289]

If the foreign investors invest in the Philippines they can only take 40% of their income and 60% for our government, so it's a win for the Philippines.

[@jesuitfoutly23]

city of dreams Manila is 40% owned by a chinese investor. 60% is owned by SM or the Sy Family Corporation. It's mandated by Phil. Law.

[@SugarRay2]

Maybe the Phillipines should look at why the Chinese are in there.

[@freedomofspeechrighttoexpr1419]

Jaiking Jaiking city of dreams? Seriously

[@blitzwing7545]

SugarRay2 POGO and every other investment opportunity that comes with it.

[@daniellebcooper7160]

I lived in snooky for 10 years, and it was the best place to live in south east asia, now its to be avoided. Though i have to admit, that the under age girl who works in the casino, is far better off working there than the alternative.

[@shootingstar87]

There is a similar city in Laos. The transaction is only in USD and Yuan. The Laotian currency is not recognised there.

[@frankcastle7863]

control by the chinese crime syndicate many tourist died or missing in cambodia, myanmar or laos

[@48hd38]

Every where the gambling industry has plagued the locals !!

[@fidget2020]

K4 raja babu It's not the gaming industry to blame for the kind of mess we see in Sihanoukville, it’s the political and business leaders that not only allow it, but encourage it. And it's not everywhere. I don't think too many locals in Singapore for example have suffered..? It's how the gaming industries are regulated is the question.

[@Opticoolos]

Yes, agree, for instance, atlantic city in usa,

[@lorybun986]

K4 raja babu true i agreed

[@Fendy1]

16:05 "Well, we live in the kingdom of wonder ... and there are many things to be wonder about!" Ha Ha Ha!

[@akniznik]

in 2013 i watched a hotel being built near the beach in Sihanoukville. The workers operating jackhammers and other heavy equipment were wearing flip flops and straw hats.

[@stu45]

Cambodia and China. Corruption meets poverty: a love story.

[@wookie4798]

Is that why Government officials all drive Rolls Royce?

[@justmyopinion1551]

Yes and have multiple vila in different province

[@vindiesel1066]

That is exactly why......

[@fidget2020]

Well, gaming and land concessions, general graft, illegal logging, rigged and opaque bidding, nepotism, tax dodging, etc etc. There has been money floating around Cambodia long before the Chinese came along.

[@leongcm1998]

@@fidget2020 They have always been the good place for Chinese dirty company for money laundering, since 80s. That's why they're able hold this position so well. Without these laundering scheme, Cambodia has been long doomed by their own corrupted government.

[@fidget2020]

@@leongcm1998 Sure, and just Chinese!

[@pflikiis4793]

I prefer to invest my money to yield good income than to gamble it, and standing a chance to loose🤔

[@jaypedro4343]

Most intelligent words I've heard

[@lucaslogan6998]

Stocks are good but i swapped and invested inBitcoin and other Cryptocurrency. I have been making good profits.

[@AnaBeatriz-fx2xs]

@@lucaslogan6998 Wow Great that's called diversifying a portfolio.

[@user-sx6cg6hl9j]

I'm an investor in bitcoin too over the years

[@amandadeborah9250]

Bitcoin is really a life changer, I couldn't believe it could be so profiting 💵

[@raminderkapoor9413]

Thank you al jazera news for me

[@BB-od5xv]

Thank you 🌹

[@niltondossantos9790]

Thanks 4 the Journalist to showing about truth.....👍👍👍

[@M4DM4RCH]

I hope Al Jazeera can do this in Philippines also...

[@user-jc3bd7gn6e]

This is a awesome channel.Thanks

[@enjoylife8590]

Isn’t Johnny Ferrari just as guilty for bringing in the technology on online betting?? Wonder how much money he made???

[@muajin]

It was my understanding that Chinese casinos and gambling were prohibited by Cambodia late last year. Even if you go to one of the southern cities, you see huge buildings that never got built. You do still see Chinese hotels though.

[@thesky4eva]

When you play with fire you only invite burns...

[@elfalconi3204]

hi karen how are you

[@eyobzewde6548]

For real ,,,

[@amparekanunuhumarikianohha9507]

Hai love you

[@elfalconi3204]

@@donnyhertana2196 Are you Karen? Check better before u comment :)

[@SaretGnasoh]

The Cambodian government is to be blamed here, not the Chinese. Because they ALLOWED that.

[@Tony-yw8yl]

Opening up the gambling industry in areas with weak public security capacity is a chronic suicide.

[@kansophano]

Thank you for sharing this video

[@kamotetops1572]

Same thing is happening in my country Philippines.

[@joen2122]

Mapapamura ka na lang ang daming chekwa lalo sa Makati. Mukhang chinatown the second na yung lugar.

[@愺伱螞坮彎瀦塔綠班]

of course, philippines is aslo a poor country

[@ilhamwicaksono5802]

Honestly it is the same all over SEA exclude SG

[@mrfeb3635]

@@ilhamwicaksono5802 In Thailand all the Casino Gamble are banned by the laws.

[@junweiwong4873]

Philipines is much more good control of casino alot than cambodia

[@jonathannoble7657]

I’ve been there. The city is in a constant state of construction. Never seen anything like it. Not a pleasant vibe there. The only nice thing are the beaches.

[@michabelly]

OMG I spent some time there 20 years ago. It was beautiful.

[@aretardridesmotard6128]

I remember when that place was tiny, what a change.

[@KyrieRuwachHosanna]

18:50 "We are building according to Chinese standards" but they are building in Cambodia.

[@TrangNguyen-um7tq]

Chinese standard is building tofu structure and that’s why they don’t abide to law and regulations.

[@ivornappinion9406]

Could of employed plenty of locals BUT NO !!

[@skipperclinton1087]

@@ivornappinion9406 That's not how the CCP works. They provide the money for the improvements and the labor too. Same deal with their belt and road scam.

[@leiyue1411]

Do you mean the great wall?

[@holyboxer2.072]

@@TrangNguyen-um7tq Vietnam can't even build its own overpass bridge😂 They contracted the project to Japan, but the bridge collapsed.

[@foxtroteighty877]

Thanks for your excellent video

[@Dwightstjohn-fo8ki]

12 TWELVE hour shifts??? I'd be seeing double figures everywhere.