There is a fascinating history to the Cambodia gambling halls that lie just over the border from next door Thailand, in which casino gaming is not permitted. Eight casinos are situated in a relatively tiny area in the metropolis of Poipet in Cambodia. This group of Cambodia gambling dens is in a perfect area, a 3 to 4 hour travel from Bangkok and Macao, the two largest gambling locations in Asia. Cambodia casinos do a huge business with Thai blue-collar workers and guests from Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, with just a few Westerners. The amazing income accrued from the gambling dens ranges from 7.5 million dollars to more than 12.5 million, and there are a couple of controls requirements for gambling den ownership. Ownership is presumed to be mostly Thai; although, financial sources are vague. The borders are ceremoniously open from 0900 to 1700, and although visas are allegedly required to cross, there are methods around this, as is correct of most border crossings.
The 1st Cambodia gambling dens premiered in Phnom Penh in 1994, but were forced to close in the late nineties, leaving only one gambling den in the capital, the Naga Resort. The Naga, a stationary bateau casino, features 150 slot machine games and sixty table games. The Naga river boat is open all day and night with forty two tables of mini-baccarat banque, four tables of 21, ten of roulette, two of Caribbean Stud Poker, and a single table each of Pai-Gow and Tai-Sai.
The original casino 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 one armed bandits and sixty eight table games at the Holiday Palace. The newest Holiday Palace Casino and Resort features three hundred slot machines and seventy table games and the Princess Hotel and Casino, also in Poipet, has one hundred and sixty six slots and ninety six gaming tables, including eighty seven baccarat chemin de fer (the most popular game), Fan Tan, and Pai Gow. Additionally, there is the Casino Tropicana, with 135 slots and sixty six of the familiar gaming tables, as well as a single table of Casino Stud Poker. An additional of the 8 gambling dens in Poipet, again in a hotel, is the Princess Casino with 166 one armed bandits and 97 games. The Star Vegas Casino is is located in an all-around resort and hotel compound that features many amenities accompanying the gambling den, which offers 10,000 sq.ft. of one hundred and thirty slot machine games and 88 tables.