There is a captivating history to the Cambodia gambling dens that sit just over the dividing line from next door Thailand, where gambling hall wagering is against the law. Eight casinos are situated in a relatively tiny space in the city of Poipet in Cambodia. This conclave of Cambodia gambling halls is in a perfect location, a three to four hour trip from Bangkok and Macao, the 2 largest gaming centers in Asia. Cambodia gambling dens do a huge business with Thai blue-collar workers and travelers from Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, with only very couple of Westerners. The amazing income accrued from the casinos ranges from 7.5 million dollars to more than 12.5 million dollars, and there are a few controls constraints for gambling den ownership. Ownership is presumed to be mainly Thai; although, investment sources are cryptic. The borders are ceremoniously open from 9:00 a.m. to 17:00, and though visas are supposedly necessary to cross, there are methods around this, as is true of most border crossings.
The first Cambodia gambling halls opened in Phnom Penh in 1994, but were required to close in 1998, leaving just 1 gambling hall in the capital, the Naga Resort. The Naga, a moored barge gambling den, contains one hundred and fifty slots and 60 gaming tables. The Naga gambling den never closes with 42 tables of mini-baccarat banque, four tables of twenty-one, ten of roulette, 2 of Caribbean Stud Poker, and one each of Pai-Gow and Tai-Sai.
The initial casino in Poipet, the Holiday Palace, premiered in 1999 and the Golden Crown quickly opened. A total of one hundred and fifty slots and five tables at the Golden Crown and 104 slots and 68 gaming tables at the Holiday Palace. The newer Holiday Palace Casino and Resort features 300 slot machine games and 70 table games and the Princess Hotel and Casino, also in Poipet, has 166 slot machine games and ninety six gaming tables, including eighty seven baccarat banque (the most dominant game), Fan Tan, and Pai Gow. Additionally, there is the Casino Tropicana, with 135 slot machines and sixty six of the normal table games, as well as a single table of Casino Stud Poker. One more of the 8 gambling halls in Poipet, also in a hotel, is the Princess Casino with one hundred and sixty six slot machine games and 97 casino games. The Star Vegas Casino is part of a comprehensive vacation and hotel complex that features numerous luxuries on top of the gambling den, which offers ten thousand sq.ft. of 130 slot machines and 88 gaming tables.