There is a fascinating history to the Cambodia gambling dens that lie just across the dividing line from nearby Thailand, in which gambling den wagering is against the law. Eight gambling halls are situated in a relatively tiny location in the municipality of Poipet in Cambodia. This group of Cambodia casinos is in an excellent spot, a 3 to four hour trip from Bangkok and Macao, the 2 biggest 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 income accrued from the gambling dens ranges from 7.5 million dollars to over 12.5 million dollars, and there are a few limitations constraints for casino ownership. Ownership is presumed to be mainly Thai; still, investment sources are vague. The borders are formally open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and though visas are apparently necessary to cross, there are means around this, as is true of many border crossings.
The original Cambodia gambling dens premiered in Phnom Penh in 1994, but were forced to close in 1998, leaving only one gambling hall in the capital, the Naga Resort. The Naga, an anchored ship gambling hall, highlights one hundred and fifty slot machines and 60 table games. The Naga gambling hall never closes with forty two tables of mini-punto banco, 4 tables of 21, 10 of roulette, two of Caribbean Stud Poker, and 1 each of Pai-Gow and Tai-Sai.
The initial gambling den in Poipet, the Holiday Palace, premiered in 1999 and the Golden Crown soon opened. A total of 150 slot machines and 5 tables at the Golden Crown and one hundred and four slots and 68 gaming tables at the Holiday Palace. The latest Holiday Palace Casino and Resort highlights three hundred slot machines and 70 tables and the Princess Hotel and Casino, also in Poipet, has one hundred and sixty six one armed bandits and 96 gaming tables, including eighty seven baccarat chemin de fer (the most popular game), Fan Tan, and Pai Gow. In addition, there is the Casino Tropicana, with one hundred and thirty five slot machine games and 66 of the familiar gaming tables, as well as one table of Casino Stud Poker. An additional of the 8 gambling dens in Poipet, also a part of a motel, is the Princess Casino with one hundred and sixty six slot machines and 97 casino games. The Star Vegas Casino is part of a multinational resort and hotel complex that features numerous comforts in addition to the gambling den, which offers ten thousand square feet of 130 slot machines and 88 tables.
