There is a fascinating background to the Cambodia gambling dens that reside just over the border from neighboring Thailand, in which casino wagering is not legal. Eight gambling halls are situated in a relatively tiny space in the metropolis of Poipet in Cambodia. This band of Cambodia gambling halls is in an excellent location, a three to four hour travel from Bangkok and Macao, the 2 largest betting centers in Asia. Cambodia gambling halls do a huge business with Thai blue-collar workers and visitors from Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, with just a few Westerners. The astonishing capital acquired from the gambling halls ranges from $7.5 million to more than 12.5 million dollars, and there are a number of limitations requirements for casino ownership. Ownership is assumed to be mainly Thai; although, investment sources are cryptic. The borders are officially open from 9:00 a.m. to 1700, and despite the fact visas are for all intents and purposes required to cross, there are methods and means around this, as is true of many border crossings.
The initial Cambodia gambling dens premiered in Phnom Penh in the mid nineties, but were required to close in 1998, leaving just 1 gambling hall in the capital, the Naga Resort. The Naga, a stationary ship casino, highlights one hundred and fifty one armed bandits and sixty gaming tables. The Naga gambling den is open all day and night with forty two tables of mini-punto banco, 4 tables of chemin de fer, ten of roulette, two of Caribbean Stud Poker, and 1 each of Pai-Gow and Tai-Sai.
The 1st gambling hall in Poipet, the Holiday Palace, opened in the late nineties and the Golden Crown before long followed. A total of 150 slot machines and five tables at the Golden Crown and 104 one armed bandits and sixty eight tables at the Holiday Palace. The latest Holiday Palace Casino and Resort highlights 300 slots and 70 gaming tables and the Princess Hotel and Casino, also in Poipet, has 166 slot machines and 96 gaming tables, including eighty seven baccarat chemin de fer (the most beloved game), Fan Tan, and Pai Gow. Also, there is the Casino Tropicana, with 135 slot machines and 66 of the common gaming tables, as well as one table of Casino Stud Poker. Another one of the 8 gambling dens in Poipet, also in a motel, is the Princess Casino with one hundred and sixty six slots and ninety seven casino games. The Star Vegas Casino is part of an all-inclusive resort and hotel building that contains many conveniences aside from the casino, which offers ten thousand square feet of 130 slots and 88 table games.