There is an interesting background to the Cambodia gambling halls that reside just across the dividing line from neighboring Thailand, where gambling hall wagering is not permitted. Eight gambling halls are situated in a relatively small space in the metropolis of Poipet in Cambodia. This conclave of Cambodia gambling dens is in a perfect area, a three to 4 hour travel from Bangkok and Macao, the 2 biggest gambling centers in Asia. Cambodia casinos do a thriving business with Thai workers and visitors from Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, with only very couple of Westerners. The astonishing capital acquired from the casinos ranges from seven and a half million dollars to more than 12.5 million, and there are a number of limitations requirements for gambling den ownership. Ownership is presumed to be largely Thai; although, financing sources are vague. The borders are ceremoniously open from 0900 to 5:00 p.m., and despite the fact visas are for all intents and purposes required to pass, there are methods around this, as is true of most borders.
The initial Cambodia gambling halls premiered in Phnom Penh in the mid nineties, but were required to close in the late nineties, leaving only one gambling den in the capital, the Naga Resort. The Naga, a moored boat casino, features one hundred and fifty one armed bandits and sixty table games. The Naga gambling hall never closes with 42 tables of mini-baccarat chemin de fer, 4 tables of twenty-one, 10 of roulette, two of Caribbean Stud Poker, and a single table each of Pai-Gow and Tai-Sai.
The 1st casino in Poipet, the Holiday Palace, premiered in the late nineties and the Golden Crown quickly opened. A total of 150 slots and five table games at the Golden Crown and one hundred and four slots and sixty eight gaming tables at the Holiday Palace. The newest Holiday Palace Casino and Resort features three hundred slot machines and 70 gaming tables and the Princess Hotel and Casino, also in Poipet, has one hundred and sixty six one armed bandits and ninety six table games, including 87 baccarat (the most beloved game), Fan Tan, and Pai Gow. Also, there is the Casino Tropicana, with one hundred and thirty five slot machine games and sixty six of the normal tables, as well as a single table of Casino Stud Poker. One more of the eight gambling dens in Poipet, also in a motel, is the Princess Casino with one hundred and sixty six one armed bandits and 97 table games. The Star Vegas Casino is is located in a multinational vacation and hotel building that contains numerous conveniences on top of the gambling den, which provides 10,000 square feet of one hundred and thirty slot machine games and 88 gaming tables.