There is a fascinating story to the Cambodia gambling dens that sit just over the dividing line from next door Thailand, where gambling hall betting is not permitted. Eight gambling halls are situated in a generally tiny space in the metropolis of Poipet in Cambodia. This conclave of Cambodia gambling halls is in a prime destination, a 3 to 4 hour drive from Bangkok and Macao, the two most popular wagering centers in Asia. Cambodia casinos do a huge business with Thai laborers and visitors from Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, with only very couple of Westerners. The amazing income accrued from the casinos ranges from 7.5 million dollars to over 12.5 million, and there are a couple of limitations requirements for gambling den ownership. Ownership is presumed to be largely Thai; although, investment sources are ambiguous. The borders are ceremoniously open from 9:00 a.m. to 17:00, and though visas are supposedly needed to pass, there are ways around this, as is true of most border crossings.
The first Cambodia gambling halls opened in Phnom Penh in 1994, but were required to close in the late nineties, leaving just 1 gambling hall in the capital, the Naga Resort. The Naga, a moored bateau gambling hall, highlights 150 one armed bandits and sixty table games. The Naga river boat never closes with 42 tables of mini-baccarat banque, four tables of blackjack, 10 of roulette, 2 of Caribbean Stud Poker, and 1 each of Pai-Gow and Tai-Sai.
The original gambling hall in Poipet, the Holiday Palace, premiered in the late nineties and the Golden Crown quickly followed. A total of one hundred and fifty one armed bandits and 5 table games at the Golden Crown and 104 slot machines and sixty eight gaming tables at the Holiday Palace. The newest Holiday Palace Casino and Resort features three hundred one armed bandits and 70 tables and the Princess Hotel and Casino, also in Poipet, has one hundred and sixty six slot machines and 96 gaming tables, including eighty seven baccarat banque (the most beloved game), Fan Tan, and Pai Gow. In addition, there is the Casino Tropicana, with one hundred and thirty five slot machine games and sixty six of the common tables, as well as a single table of Casino Stud Poker. Another one of the eight casinos in Poipet, again in a motel, is the Princess Casino with one hundred and sixty six slot machines and ninety seven games. The Star Vegas Casino is part of an all-inclusive resort and hotel complex that features a number of conveniences in addition to the gambling den, which contains 10,000 sq.ft. of one hundred and thirty slots and eighty eight table games.