There is a fascinating history to the Cambodia gambling halls that reside just across the dividing line from next door Thailand, where gambling den wagering is not permitted. Eight gambling halls are established in a generally small location in the municipality of Poipet in Cambodia. This conclave of Cambodia gambling dens is in a perfect area, a 3 to 4 hour trip from Bangkok and Macao, the 2 biggest betting centers in Asia. Cambodia casinos do a thriving business with Thai blue-collar workers and tourists from Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, with just a couple of Westerners. The amazing income accrued from the gambling dens ranges from 7.5 million dollars to over 12.5 million dollars, and there are a number of limitations constraints for gambling den ownership. Ownership is presumed to be mainly Thai; however, funding sources are vague. The borders are formally open from 9:00 a.m. to 1700, and though visas are for all intents and purposes necessary to cross, there are ways around this, as is accurate of most border crossings.
The 1st Cambodia gambling halls opened in Phnom Penh in 1994, but were required to close in the late nineties, leaving only 1 gambling hall in the capital, the Naga Resort. The Naga, a stationary ship gambling hall, highlights 150 slots and 60 tables. The Naga river boat never closes with 42 tables of mini-baccarat banque, 4 tables of chemin de fer, 10 of roulette, 2 of Caribbean Stud Poker, and a single table each of Pai-Gow and Tai-Sai.
The original casino in Poipet, the Holiday Palace, opened in 1999 and the Golden Crown quickly opened. There are 150 slots and five tables at the Golden Crown and 104 one armed bandits and 68 gaming tables at the Holiday Palace. The newer Holiday Palace Casino and Resort highlights 300 slot machines and 70 table games and the Princess Hotel and Casino, also in Poipet, has one hundred and sixty six slot machines and 96 gaming tables, including 87 punto banco (the most dominant game), Fan Tan, and Pai Gow. In addition, there is the Casino Tropicana, with one hundred and thirty five one armed bandits and 66 of the normal table games, as well as one table of Casino Stud Poker. An additional of the eight casinos in Poipet, again a part of a hotel, is the Princess Casino with 166 one armed bandits and 97 games. The Star Vegas Casino is is located in a comprehensive resort and hotel building that contains many amenities aside from the casino, which houses ten thousand sq.ft. of 130 one armed bandits and eighty eight tables.
