There is a fascinating background to the Cambodia gambling dens that reside just over the dividing line from neighboring Thailand, in which casino wagering is banned. Eight casinos are situated in a generally small space in the metropolis of Poipet in Cambodia. This collection of Cambodia casinos is in an excellent location, a three to 4 hour drive from Bangkok and Macao, the 2 largest betting centers in Asia. Cambodia casinos do a huge business with Thai laborers and travelers from Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, with just a few Westerners. The astonishing income gained from the gambling dens ranges from $7.5 million to over 12.5 million dollars, and there are a few limitations requirements for casino ownership. Ownership is assumed to be mostly Thai; although, investment sources are ambiguous. The borders are officially open from 09:00 to 17:00, and although visas are allegedly needed to cross, there are methods around this, as is correct of many borders.
The initial Cambodia casinos opened in Phnom Penh in 1994, but were required to close in 1998, leaving only 1 gambling den in the capital, the Naga Resort. The Naga, an anchored bateau gambling hall, highlights one hundred and fifty slot machine games and sixty gaming tables. The Naga casino never closes with forty two tables of mini-baccarat, 4 tables of vingt-et-un, ten of roulette, 2 of Caribbean Stud Poker, and 1 each of Pai-Gow and Tai-Sai.
The first gambling hall in Poipet, the Holiday Palace, premiered in 1999 and the Golden Crown quickly followed. There are 150 one armed bandits and five table games at the Golden Crown and one hundred and four slot machines and 68 gaming tables at the Holiday Palace. The newer Holiday Palace Casino and Resort contains three hundred slots and 70 tables and the Princess Hotel and Casino, also in Poipet, has 166 slots and 96 table games, including eighty seven punto banco (the most dominant game), Fan Tan, and Pai Gow. In addition, there is the Casino Tropicana, with 135 slot machine games and sixty six of the familiar gaming tables, as well as one table of Casino Stud Poker. One more of the eight casinos in Poipet, also in a motel, is the Princess Casino with one hundred and sixty six slots and ninety seven casino games. The Star Vegas Casino is is located in an all-around resort and hotel building that contains a number of luxuries on top of the casino, which has 10,000 sq.ft. of one hundred and thirty slots and 88 gaming tables.