There is a fascinating background to the Cambodia gambling halls that reside just across the dividing line from neighboring Thailand, in which casino wagering is not permitted. Eight casinos are based in a generally small area in the municipality of Poipet in Cambodia. This conclave of Cambodia casinos is in a perfect spot, a three to 4 hour travel from Bangkok and Macao, the 2 largest betting centers in Asia. Cambodia gambling halls do a huge business with Thai laborers and guests from Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, with only very couple of Westerners. The phenomenal income accrued from the gambling halls ranges from $7.5 million to more than 12.5 million dollars, and there are a couple of limitations constraints for casino ownership. Ownership is assumed to be largely Thai; however, financial sources are ambiguous. The borders are ceremoniously open from 9:00 a.m. to 17:00, and though visas are supposedly necessary to cross, there are means around this, as is correct of many border crossings.
The 1st Cambodia gambling halls premiered in Phnom Penh in 1994, but were required to close in the late nineties, leaving just 1 gambling den in the capital, the Naga Resort. The Naga, a stationary bateau casino, highlights 150 slot machine games and 60 tables. The Naga casino never closes with 42 tables of mini-punto banco, four tables of vingt-et-un, 10 of roulette, 2 of Caribbean Stud Poker, and a single table each of Pai-Gow and Tai-Sai.
The original gambling den in Poipet, the Holiday Palace, premiered in the late nineties and the Golden Crown quickly followed. There are one hundred and fifty one armed bandits and 5 tables at the Golden Crown and one hundred and four slot machine games and sixty eight tables at the Holiday Palace. The newer Holiday Palace Casino and Resort highlights three hundred slot machine games and 70 table games and the Princess Hotel and Casino, also in Poipet, has one hundred and sixty six slot machine games and ninety six gaming tables, including 87 baccarat chemin de fer (the most dominant game), Fan Tan, and Pai Gow. Also, there is the Casino Tropicana, with one hundred and thirty five slots and 66 of the common gaming tables, as well as 1 table of Casino Stud Poker. Another one of the eight gambling halls in Poipet, again in 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 comprehensive vacation and hotel building that features many luxuries aside from the gambling den, which offers 10,000 sq.ft. of one hundred and thirty one armed bandits and 88 gaming tables.