There is a fascinating history to the Cambodia gambling dens that lie just over the border from neighboring Thailand, where gambling hall betting is prohibited. Eight casinos are established in a generally tiny space in the metropolis of Poipet in Cambodia. This group of Cambodia gambling halls is in a perfect area, a 3 to 4 hour trip from Bangkok and Macao, the two most popular betting centers in Asia. Cambodia gambling dens do a thriving business with Thai workers and guests from Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, with only very few Westerners. The amazing income gained from the gambling dens ranges from 7.5 million dollars to over 12.5 million, and there are a couple of restrictions constraints for casino ownership. Ownership is assumed to be largely Thai; however, investment sources are ambiguous. The borders are officially open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and though visas are allegedly required to pass, there are methods around this, as is accurate of many border crossings.
The 1st Cambodia casinos premiered in Phnom Penh in 1994, but were required to close in 1998, leaving only 1 gambling hall in the capital, the Naga Resort. The Naga, a stationary boat gambling den, contains one hundred and fifty slot machines and 60 table games. The Naga casino is open 24 hours with forty two tables of mini-baccarat banque, 4 tables of twenty-one, ten of roulette, two of Caribbean Stud Poker, and one each of Pai-Gow and Tai-Sai.
The first gambling den in Poipet, the Holiday Palace, premiered in 1999 and the Golden Crown quickly opened. There are one hundred and fifty slots and 5 tables at the Golden Crown and 104 slots and 68 table games at the Holiday Palace. The newest Holiday Palace Casino and Resort features three hundred slot machines and 70 gaming tables and the Princess Hotel and Casino, also in Poipet, has one hundred and sixty six slot machine games and 96 gaming tables, including 87 baccarat (the most popular game), Fan Tan, and Pai Gow. Also, there is the Casino Tropicana, with 135 slot machines and sixty six of the common table games, as well as 1 table of Casino Stud Poker. Another one of the eight casinos in Poipet, again a part of a motel, is the Princess Casino with one hundred and sixty six slots and ninety seven games. The Star Vegas Casino is part of a comprehensive resort and hotel complex that contains numerous conveniences on top of the casino, which has ten thousand sq.ft. of 130 slot machines and 88 table games.