There is an interesting story to the Cambodia casinos that sit just over the dividing line from next door Thailand, where casino gaming is illegal. Eight gambling dens are situated in a relatively small area in the city of Poipet in Cambodia. This conclave of Cambodia gambling halls is in a perfect spot, a three to four hour trip from Bangkok and Macao, the 2 biggest gaming locations in Asia. Cambodia casinos do a huge business with Thai laborers and travelers from Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, with only very couple of Westerners. The amazing income accrued from the gambling halls ranges from $7.5 million to over twelve and a half million dollars, and there are a few limitations constraints for casino ownership. Ownership is presumed to be mainly Thai; still, investment sources are cryptic. The borders are ceremoniously open from 09:00 to 5:00 p.m., and although visas are for all intents and purposes needed to cross, there are ways around this, as is real of most border crossings.
The 1st Cambodia casinos premiered in Phnom Penh in 1994, but were forced to close in 1998, leaving only one gambling den in the capital, the Naga Resort. The Naga, a moored bateau casino, contains 150 one armed bandits and 60 gaming tables. The Naga river boat is open 24 hours with forty two tables of mini-punto banco, 4 tables of 21, ten of roulette, 2 of Caribbean Stud Poker, and a single table each of Pai-Gow and Tai-Sai.
The first casino in Poipet, the Holiday Palace, premiered in 1999 and the Golden Crown soon opened. There are one hundred and fifty slots and 5 tables at the Golden Crown and 104 slot machines and 68 gaming tables at the Holiday Palace. The newest Holiday Palace Casino and Resort features 300 slot machines and 70 tables and the Princess Hotel and Casino, also in Poipet, has one hundred and sixty six slots and 96 table games, including 87 baccarat chemin de fer (the most dominant game), Fan Tan, and Pai Gow. Additionally, there is the Casino Tropicana, with one hundred and thirty five slots and sixty six of the normal table games, as well as 1 table of Casino Stud Poker. An additional of the eight gambling dens in Poipet, again a part of a hotel, is the Princess Casino with one hundred and sixty six slot machine games and 97 games. The Star Vegas Casino is is located in a comprehensive vacation and hotel complex that features many luxuries accompanying the casino, which offers 10,000 sq.ft. of 130 slot machine games and 88 tables.