There is a fascinating history to the Cambodia gambling halls that reside just over the dividing line from neighboring Thailand, in which gambling den betting is illegal. Eight casinos are situated in a generally small area in the metropolis of Poipet in Cambodia. This collection of Cambodia gambling dens is in a prime destination, a three to four hour travel from Bangkok and Macao, the two most popular wagering centers in Asia. Cambodia casinos do a thriving business with Thai workers and travelers from Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, with just a couple of Westerners. The amazing income accrued from the gambling halls ranges from $7.5 million to more than 12.5 million dollars, and there are a couple of restrictions requirements for gambling hall ownership. Ownership is required to be largely Thai; still, financing sources are cryptic. The borders are formally open from 09:00 to 5:00 p.m., and although visas are supposedly necessary to pass, there are methods and means around this, as is true of most borders.
The 1st Cambodia gambling dens premiered in Phnom Penh in 1994, but were forced to close in 1998, leaving just a single gambling den in the capital, the Naga Resort. The Naga, a moored bateau gambling den, features one hundred and fifty slot machines and sixty tables. The Naga gambling den is open all hours with 42 tables of mini-punto banco, 4 tables of twenty-one, ten of roulette, 2 of Caribbean Stud Poker, and 1 each of Pai-Gow and Tai-Sai.
The original casino in Poipet, the Holiday Palace, premiered in 1999 and the Golden Crown before long followed. A total of one hundred and fifty slot machine games and 5 table games at the Golden Crown and 104 slots and 68 gaming tables at the Holiday Palace. The latest Holiday Palace Casino and Resort contains 300 slots and 70 gaming tables and the Princess Hotel and Casino, also in Poipet, has one hundred and sixty six one armed bandits and 96 gaming tables, including eighty seven punto banco (the most popular game), Fan Tan, and Pai Gow. In addition, there is the Casino Tropicana, with 135 slot machines and sixty six of the familiar tables, as well as 1 table of Casino Stud Poker. Another one of the eight casinos in Poipet, again in a motel, is the Princess Casino with one hundred and sixty six slot machine games and ninety seven games. The Star Vegas Casino is is located in a comprehensive vacation and hotel compound that contains many luxuries aside from the gambling hall, which contains 10,000 sq.ft. of one hundred and thirty slots and eighty eight tables.