There is a fascinating background to the Cambodia gambling dens that lie just across the border from next door Thailand, where gambling hall gambling is not allowed. Eight gambling dens are based in a relatively small area in the metropolis of Poipet in Cambodia. This conclave of Cambodia gambling halls is in a prime area, a 3 to 4 hour trip from Bangkok and Macao, the 2 most popular betting centers in Asia. Cambodia gambling dens do a thriving business with Thai laborers and guests from Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, with just a few Westerners. The astonishing income acquired from the gambling halls ranges from seven and a half million dollars to more than 12.5 million dollars, and there are a few restrictions constraints for gambling den ownership. Ownership is assumed to be mainly Thai; although, investment sources are cryptic. The borders are formally open from 09:00 to 17:00, and despite the fact visas are allegedly needed to cross, there are ways around this, as is accurate of many borders.
The first Cambodia gambling dens premiered in Phnom Penh in the mid nineties, but were forced to close in the late nineties, leaving only 1 casino in the capital, the Naga Resort. The Naga, a moored boat gambling den, features one hundred and fifty slots and sixty tables. The Naga casino never closes with 42 tables of mini-baccarat, 4 tables of twenty-one, ten of roulette, two of Caribbean Stud Poker, and one each of Pai-Gow and Tai-Sai.
The initial casino in Poipet, the Holiday Palace, premiered in 1999 and the Golden Crown soon followed. There are 150 one armed bandits and five table games at the Golden Crown and 104 one armed bandits and 68 table games at the Holiday Palace. The newest Holiday Palace Casino and Resort features 300 slots and 70 table games and the Princess Hotel and Casino, also in Poipet, has 166 slot machine games and ninety six table games, including eighty seven baccarat banque (the most dominant game), Fan Tan, and Pai Gow. Also, there is the Casino Tropicana, with 135 one armed bandits and 66 of the familiar gaming tables, as well as one table of Casino Stud Poker. One more of the 8 gambling halls in Poipet, also in a motel, is the Princess Casino with 166 slots and 97 table games. The Star Vegas Casino is part of a multinational resort and hotel compound that features a number of comforts on top of the casino, which has ten thousand sq.ft. of one hundred and thirty slot machine games and eighty eight gaming tables.