[ English ]

There is a fascinating story to the Cambodia gambling dens that lie just over the border from next door Thailand, in which casino wagering is not legal. Eight casinos are situated in a generally tiny location in the metropolis of Poipet in Cambodia. This band of Cambodia gambling dens is in a prime destination, a 3 to 4 hour drive from Bangkok and Macao, the two largest gambling locations in Asia. Cambodia gambling halls 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 gained from the gambling dens ranges from seven and a half million dollars to more than 12.5 million, and there are a couple of limitations requirements for gambling hall ownership. Ownership is presumed to be mostly Thai; still, investment sources are vague. The borders are officially open from 09:00 to 5:00 p.m., and although visas are apparently necessary to cross, there are methods around this, as is correct of most borders.

The original Cambodia casinos opened in Phnom Penh in 1994, but were forced to close in 1998, leaving just one casino in the capital, the Naga Resort. The Naga, a docked boat casino, contains one hundred and fifty slot machines and sixty tables. The Naga river boat never closes with 42 tables of mini-baccarat, four tables of chemin de fer, 10 of roulette, two of Caribbean Stud Poker, and a single table each of Pai-Gow and Tai-Sai.

The initial gambling den in Poipet, the Holiday Palace, premiered in 1999 and the Golden Crown quickly opened. A total of 150 slot machine games and five table games at the Golden Crown and one hundred and four slot machines and sixty eight gaming tables at the Holiday Palace. The newer Holiday Palace Casino and Resort contains 300 slot machine games and seventy gaming tables and the Princess Hotel and Casino, also in Poipet, has one hundred and sixty six slot machines and 96 table games, including eighty seven baccarat banque (the most beloved game), Fan Tan, and Pai Gow. Also, there is the Casino Tropicana, with one hundred and thirty five one armed bandits and sixty six of the familiar gaming tables, as well as one table of Casino Stud Poker. One more of the eight gambling halls in Poipet, also in a motel, is the Princess Casino with 166 slot machines and 97 games. The Star Vegas Casino is part of an all-inclusive vacation and hotel building that highlights many amenities accompanying the gambling den, which has ten thousand sq.ft. of 130 slot machines and 88 table games.