There is an interesting story to the Cambodia gambling halls that sit just over the border from next door Thailand, in which casino gambling is not legal. Eight casinos are based in a generally small area in the metropolis of Poipet in Cambodia. This group of Cambodia casinos is in a perfect location, a three to four hour trip from Bangkok and Macao, the 2 most popular gaming centers in Asia. Cambodia gambling dens do a thriving business with Thai blue-collar workers and tourists from Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, with only very couple of Westerners. The phenomenal capital acquired from the gambling dens ranges from 7.5 million dollars to over 12.5 million dollars, and there are a few limitations requirements for casino ownership. Ownership is required to be mostly Thai; however, financial sources are vague. The borders are formally open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and despite the fact visas are allegedly necessary to pass, there are methods around this, as is accurate of many borders.
The first Cambodia gambling dens opened in Phnom Penh in the mid nineties, but were required to close in the late nineties, leaving only one gambling hall in the capital, the Naga Resort. The Naga, a stationary bateau gambling hall, features one hundred and fifty one armed bandits and 60 gaming tables. The Naga casino never closes with forty two tables of mini-baccarat banque, 4 tables of chemin de fer, 10 of roulette, 2 of Caribbean Stud Poker, and a single table each of Pai-Gow and Tai-Sai.
The first gambling hall in Poipet, the Holiday Palace, premiered in the late nineties and the Golden Crown before long opened. There are one hundred and fifty slot machines and 5 tables at the Golden Crown and 104 slot machines and 68 tables at the Holiday Palace. The newest Holiday Palace Casino and Resort highlights 300 one armed bandits and seventy table games and the Princess Hotel and Casino, also in Poipet, has one hundred and sixty six one armed bandits and ninety six table games, including 87 baccarat chemin de fer (the most popular game), Fan Tan, and Pai Gow. Also, there is the Casino Tropicana, with one hundred and thirty five slots and 66 of the normal tables, as well as one table of Casino Stud Poker. Another one of the 8 casinos in Poipet, also a part of a hotel, is the Princess Casino with 166 slot machines and ninety seven games. The Star Vegas Casino is part of an all-inclusive resort and hotel building that contains numerous comforts accompanying the casino, which has 10,000 sq.ft. of 130 slots and 88 tables.