There is a fascinating history to the Cambodia gambling dens that reside just over the dividing line from nearby Thailand, in which casino gambling is not permitted. Eight gambling halls are anchored in a relatively tiny space in the metropolis of Poipet in Cambodia. This conclave of Cambodia casinos is in a perfect spot, a three to four hour travel from Bangkok and Macao, the two largest betting locations in Asia. Cambodia casinos do a thriving business with Thai workers and travelers from Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, with just a few Westerners. The phenomenal capital accrued from the gambling dens ranges from seven and a half million dollars to more than 12.5 million, and there are a couple of restrictions constraints for casino ownership. Ownership is presumed to be mostly Thai; although, financing sources are ambiguous. The borders are officially open from 09:00 to 5:00 p.m., and although visas are for all intents and purposes necessary to cross, there are methods and means around this, as is true of many border crossings.
The first Cambodia casinos premiered in Phnom Penh in 1994, but were forced to close in 1998, leaving just a single gambling hall in the capital, the Naga Resort. The Naga, a docked bateau casino, contains 150 slots and 60 table games. The Naga river boat never closes with forty two tables of mini-baccarat chemin de fer, 4 tables of 21, ten of roulette, two of Caribbean Stud Poker, and 1 each of Pai-Gow and Tai-Sai.
The first gambling hall in Poipet, the Holiday Palace, premiered in 1999 and the Golden Crown soon opened. There are one hundred and fifty slots and 5 table games at the Golden Crown and 104 one armed bandits and sixty eight tables at the Holiday Palace. The newest Holiday Palace Casino and Resort highlights three hundred slot machine games and seventy table games and the Princess Hotel and Casino, also in Poipet, has one hundred and sixty six slot machines and 96 gaming tables, including eighty seven punto banco (the most dominant game), Fan Tan, and Pai Gow. Additionally, there is the Casino Tropicana, with 135 one armed bandits and sixty six of the common gaming tables, as well as one table of Casino Stud Poker. An additional of the 8 casinos in Poipet, also a part of a motel, is the Princess Casino with 166 one armed bandits and 97 games. The Star Vegas Casino is is located in an all-around resort and hotel complex that features many luxuries aside from the gambling hall, which has 10,000 sq.ft. of 130 slot machines and eighty eight gaming tables.
