There is a fascinating history to the Cambodia casinos that sit just across the border from nearby Thailand, where gambling den betting is banned. Eight casinos are anchored in a generally small location in the city of Poipet in Cambodia. This conclave of Cambodia gambling halls is in a prime location, a three to 4 hour trip from Bangkok and Macao, the 2 largest gambling centers 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 income accrued from the gambling halls ranges from seven and a half million dollars to more than 12.5 million, and there are a number of limitations constraints for gambling hall ownership. Ownership is required to be mainly Thai; still, investment sources are vague. The borders are formally open from 0900 to 1700, and despite the fact visas are for all intents and purposes required to cross, there are ways around this, as is true of most borders.
The 1st Cambodia casinos premiered in Phnom Penh in the mid nineties, but were required to close in 1998, leaving only one gambling den in the capital, the Naga Resort. The Naga, an anchored barge gambling hall, features one hundred and fifty slots and 60 tables. The Naga river boat is open all hours with 42 tables of mini-punto banco, four tables of vingt-et-un, ten of roulette, 2 of Caribbean Stud Poker, and a single table each of Pai-Gow and Tai-Sai.
The initial gambling hall in Poipet, the Holiday Palace, premiered in 1999 and the Golden Crown quickly opened. A total of one hundred and fifty one armed bandits and 5 table games at the Golden Crown and 104 slots and 68 table games at the Holiday Palace. The newest Holiday Palace Casino and Resort features 300 slot machines and 70 tables and the Princess Hotel and Casino, also in Poipet, has 166 slot machine games and ninety six table games, including 87 baccarat (the most beloved game), Fan Tan, and Pai Gow. In addition, there is the Casino Tropicana, with 135 slot machine games and sixty six of the familiar table games, as well as 1 table of Casino Stud Poker. One more of the 8 gambling dens in Poipet, again in a hotel, is the Princess Casino with 166 slot machines and 97 table games. The Star Vegas Casino is part of an all-around resort and hotel building that highlights a number of conveniences in addition to the casino, which contains 10,000 sq.ft. of 130 slot machine games and 88 table games.