[ English ]

There is a captivating history to the Cambodia gambling halls that lie just over the border from neighboring Thailand, in which gambling den gambling is against the law. Eight casinos are anchored in a generally small location in the municipality of Poipet in Cambodia. This conclave of Cambodia gambling dens is in an excellent location, a three to four hour drive 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 couple of Westerners. The amazing income accrued from the gambling halls ranges from seven and a half million dollars to over 12.5 million, and there are a number of limitations constraints for gambling den ownership. Ownership is assumed to be mainly Thai; however, funding sources are vague. The borders are officially open from 09:00 to 17:00, and even though visas are allegedly required to cross, there are means around this, as is real of many borders.

The initial Cambodia gambling halls opened in Phnom Penh in 1994, but were forced to close in 1998, leaving just 1 gambling den in the capital, the Naga Resort. The Naga, an anchored bateau gambling hall, highlights one hundred and fifty slot machines and sixty table games. The Naga gambling den is open all day and night with 42 tables of mini-punto banco, four tables of 21, ten of roulette, 2 of Caribbean Stud Poker, and 1 each of Pai-Gow and Tai-Sai.

The 1st gambling den in Poipet, the Holiday Palace, premiered in the late nineties and the Golden Crown soon opened. A total of one hundred and fifty slot machines and five tables at the Golden Crown and 104 slot machines and 68 tables at the Holiday Palace. The newer Holiday Palace Casino and Resort features three hundred one armed bandits and 70 gaming tables and the Princess Hotel and Casino, also in Poipet, has one hundred and sixty six slots and 96 gaming tables, including eighty seven baccarat banque (the most popular game), Fan Tan, and Pai Gow. Also, there is the Casino Tropicana, with 135 slot machine games and sixty six of the familiar tables, as well as a single table of Casino Stud Poker. Another one of the eight gambling halls in Poipet, also in a motel, is the Princess Casino with one hundred and sixty six slot machines and 97 casino games. The Star Vegas Casino is part of an all-around resort and hotel complex that highlights numerous conveniences accompanying the gambling hall, which offers ten thousand square feet of 130 slot machines and 88 tables.