There is a fascinating history to the Cambodia casinos that lie just over the border from neighboring Thailand, in which gambling hall gambling is illegal. Eight gambling halls are anchored in a relatively tiny space in the metropolis of Poipet in Cambodia. This band of Cambodia gambling dens is in a prime location, a 3 to 4 hour travel from Bangkok and Macao, the 2 largest wagering centers in Asia. Cambodia gambling dens do a huge business with Thai workers and travelers from Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, with just a few Westerners. The astonishing capital gained from the gambling dens ranges from 7.5 million dollars to over 12.5 million, and there are a number of limitations constraints for casino ownership. Ownership is required to be mainly Thai; although, investment sources are vague. The borders are ceremoniously open from 9:00 a.m. to 17:00, and though visas are apparently needed to cross, there are ways around this, as is real of most border crossings.
The original Cambodia casinos premiered in Phnom Penh in the mid nineties, but were forced to close in the late nineties, leaving only a single gambling hall in the capital, the Naga Resort. The Naga, an anchored ship casino, highlights one hundred and fifty one armed bandits and sixty tables. The Naga river boat is open 24 hours with forty two tables of mini-baccarat, 4 tables of twenty-one, 10 of roulette, two of Caribbean Stud Poker, and one each of Pai-Gow and Tai-Sai.
The original gambling hall in Poipet, the Holiday Palace, premiered in the late nineties and the Golden Crown soon followed. A total of 150 slots and five tables at the Golden Crown and 104 slot machines and 68 gaming tables at the Holiday Palace. The latest Holiday Palace Casino and Resort highlights 300 slot machines and 70 gaming tables and the Princess Hotel and Casino, also in Poipet, has 166 one armed bandits and 96 table games, including 87 baccarat banque (the most popular game), Fan Tan, and Pai Gow. Also, there is the Casino Tropicana, with 135 slot machines and sixty six of the normal gaming tables, as well as one table of Casino Stud Poker. Another one of the 8 gambling dens in Poipet, also in a motel, is the Princess Casino with 166 slot machines and ninety seven games. The Star Vegas Casino is is located in an international vacation and hotel building that features many comforts in addition to the casino, which has 10,000 square feet of 130 slot machines and eighty eight table games.