There is an interesting story to the Cambodia gambling halls that sit just over the border from nearby Thailand, where gambling den gaming is illegal. Eight gambling halls are established in a generally small space in the metropolis of Poipet in Cambodia. This group of Cambodia gambling dens is in a perfect destination, a three to 4 hour travel from Bangkok and Macao, the 2 largest wagering centers in Asia. Cambodia casinos do a thriving business with Thai workers and guests from Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, with only very couple of Westerners. The amazing income gained from the casinos ranges from seven and a half million dollars to over 12.5 million, and there are a number of limitations requirements for casino ownership. Ownership is required to be mainly Thai; however, investment sources are cryptic. The borders are formally open from 09:00 to 5:00 p.m., and although visas are allegedly required to cross, there are means around this, as is real of most border crossings.
The first Cambodia gambling dens premiered in Phnom Penh in the mid nineties, but were forced to close in 1998, leaving just 1 casino in the capital, the Naga Resort. The Naga, a docked boat gambling hall, features 150 one armed bandits and sixty table games. The Naga gambling hall never closes with 42 tables of mini-baccarat, 4 tables of blackjack, 10 of roulette, two of Caribbean Stud Poker, and 1 each of Pai-Gow and Tai-Sai.
The initial gambling den in Poipet, the Holiday Palace, premiered in 1999 and the Golden Crown soon followed. A total of 150 one armed bandits and 5 tables at the Golden Crown and 104 one armed bandits and 68 gaming tables at the Holiday Palace. The newest Holiday Palace Casino and Resort features 300 one armed bandits and 70 tables and the Princess Hotel and Casino, also in Poipet, has 166 slot machine games and ninety six 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 slot machine games and 66 of the common table games, as well as 1 table of Casino Stud Poker. Another one of the eight gambling halls in Poipet, again in a motel, is the Princess Casino with one hundred and sixty six slots and 97 games. The Star Vegas Casino is part of a comprehensive resort and hotel compound that features numerous luxuries in addition to the casino, which has ten thousand square feet of one hundred and thirty slots and 88 tables.