There is a captivating history to the Cambodia gambling dens that sit just across the border from next door Thailand, where gambling hall gambling is prohibited. Eight gambling dens are situated in a relatively tiny area in the metropolis of Poipet in Cambodia. This collection of Cambodia gambling halls is in a perfect location, a three to 4 hour travel from Bangkok and Macao, the two most popular gambling centers in Asia. Cambodia casinos do a thriving business with Thai laborers and tourists from Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, with just a couple of Westerners. The phenomenal income gained from the gambling halls ranges from 7.5 million dollars to over 12.5 million dollars, and there are a few limitations requirements for casino ownership. Ownership is required to be mostly Thai; although, financial sources are cryptic. The borders are officially open from 0900 to 17:00, and although visas are allegedly needed to pass, there are means around this, as is true of most borders.
The first Cambodia gambling halls opened in Phnom Penh in 1994, but were forced to close in 1998, leaving just 1 gambling hall in the capital, the Naga Resort. The Naga, an anchored ship gambling hall, contains one hundred and fifty slot machine games and sixty tables. The Naga casino never closes with forty two tables of mini-punto banco, 4 tables of 21, ten 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, opened in 1999 and the Golden Crown quickly opened. A total of 150 slot machines and 5 table games at the Golden Crown and one hundred and four one armed bandits and sixty eight gaming tables at the Holiday Palace. The newest Holiday Palace Casino and Resort features 300 slot machine games and seventy tables and the Princess Hotel and Casino, also in Poipet, has 166 slot machine games and ninety six table games, including 87 baccarat banque (the most beloved game), Fan Tan, and Pai Gow. Additionally, there is the Casino Tropicana, with one hundred and thirty five one armed bandits and sixty six of the common gaming tables, as well as 1 table of Casino Stud Poker. One more of the 8 gambling dens in Poipet, again a part of a motel, is the Princess Casino with one hundred and sixty six slot machines and ninety seven games. The Star Vegas Casino is is located in a multinational resort and hotel compound that features numerous luxuries on top of the gambling den, which has 10,000 sq.ft. of one hundred and thirty slot machine games and eighty eight table games.