There is an interesting story to the Cambodia casinos that sit just across the dividing line from neighboring Thailand, where casino gambling is not legal. Eight casinos are based in a generally small space in the municipality of Poipet in Cambodia. This group of Cambodia casinos is in a prime spot, a 3 to 4 hour drive from Bangkok and Macao, the 2 biggest betting locations in Asia. Cambodia gambling halls do a huge business with Thai blue-collar workers and tourists from Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, with only very few Westerners. The phenomenal capital accrued from the casinos ranges from $7.5 million to more than 12.5 million, and there are a few limitations constraints for gambling den ownership. Ownership is presumed to be mostly Thai; although, financial sources are vague. The borders are ceremoniously open from 09:00 to 5:00 p.m., and although visas are supposedly required to pass, there are methods around this, as is real of many border crossings.
The 1st Cambodia gambling dens opened in Phnom Penh in 1994, but were required to close in 1998, leaving just 1 casino in the capital, the Naga Resort. The Naga, a docked ship gambling hall, features 150 slot machine games and 60 tables. The Naga river boat is open all day and night with 42 tables of mini-baccarat, 4 tables of twenty-one, 10 of roulette, 2 of Caribbean Stud Poker, and one each of Pai-Gow and Tai-Sai.
The 1st gambling hall in Poipet, the Holiday Palace, premiered in 1999 and the Golden Crown quickly followed. There are one hundred and fifty slots and 5 tables at the Golden Crown and 104 slots and 68 tables at the Holiday Palace. The latest Holiday Palace Casino and Resort features 300 slot machines and seventy table games and the Princess Hotel and Casino, also in Poipet, has 166 slot machines and ninety six gaming tables, including eighty seven punto banco (the most popular game), Fan Tan, and Pai Gow. In addition, there is the Casino Tropicana, with 135 slot machine games and 66 of the common tables, as well as one table of Casino Stud Poker. An additional of the 8 gambling halls in Poipet, also a part of a hotel, is the Princess Casino with 166 one armed bandits and ninety seven games. The Star Vegas Casino is is located in an international resort and hotel compound that highlights many luxuries in addition to the gambling hall, which contains 10,000 sq.ft. of 130 slot machines and 88 table games.
